Delta pilots claim new Virgin, Air France, KLM deal could hurt career opportunities

The Delta Air Lines' pilots union says the airline's new transatlantic joint venture with Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM could pose a risk to aviation jobs in the US. The Delta Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association issued a filing Aug 16 to the US DoT voicing concerns over the airline's failed promise to "produce new flying opportunities for Delta and its employees" in a 2013 Delta-Virgin Atlantic joint venture. Ryan Schnitzler, chairman of Delta's pilots union, asks the DoT to implement new metrics to measure whether aviation jobs in the US will result from the new Delta-Virgin Atlantic-Air France-KLM partnership that will replace the existing deals. Schnitzler noted the new JV, if approved, would significantly reduce Delta’s financial incentive to expand its own operations. <br/>