American Airlines spokeswoman, Sue Gordon said, "Our goal in these negotiations is to work with the APA to identify creative ways to run the airline more efficiently. We really don't have any preconceived notions or ideas for how to best achieve this."
Recently a controversial bonus plan at the airline gave stock and cash worth about $100 million to managers. Allied Pilots president Ralph Hunter said, "increased compensation is not beyond the ability of this company to afford."
Something the company will probably have to explain a bit more in detail with the talks begin.
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Allied Pilots leaders considered going to the carrier last November to propose productivity improvements, but that step was scuttled when rank-and-file employees learned about the size of the management bonuses.
The board of AMR Corp., American's parent, modified the bonus plan in April to make most of the payout in AMR stock.
The 2003 deal made the pilots' contract amendable in 2008. However, union leaders insisted during the 2003 talks on the right to open talks two years earlier, on May 1, 2006, in case a sudden improvement in AMR's fortunes could justify a better contract.
The parent company of American Airlines, AMR Corp. (AMR) was up in trading today (0.38) to $22.91 a share.
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