The union representing United Airlines pilots has approved a tentative deal that would give the aviators pay raises of more than 14%, making it the first major US carrier to reach a deal since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and setting the bar for the rest of the industry. The agreement comes as the airline and others grapple with a shortage of pilots, which some carriers say have forced them to trim flight schedules. The contract faces a vote by rank-and-file pilots that will conclude in mid-July. Under the agreement approved Friday, pilots would get more than 14.5% in pay increases within 18 months, according to the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents about 14,000 United pilots. Pilot pay at United as of 2020 ranged from about $73,000 a year for an early-career first officer on the carrier’s smallest aircraft to more than $337,000 for a wide-body captain, according to Kit Darby, a pilot pay consultant and retired United captain. However, pay can vary widely depending on how often pilots fly. The two-year agreement also includes eight weeks of paid maternity leave, a first for the carrier’s pilots. United said women comprise about 7% of its pilot ranks. The agreement sets the tone for negotiations with other large US carriers as unions seek quality-of-life improvements after two years of the pandemic. Some pilots say airlines have created grueling schedules to capitalize on a rebound in travel that has left them fatigued, and some have recently picketed to protest conditions.<br/>
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Deutsche Lufthansa is canceling a total of 3,100 flights after a wave of coronavirus infections worsened staffing shortages, adding to Europe’s travel chaos as the crucial summer vacation period gets under way. Germany’s flagship airline on Friday announced it will scrap 2,200 domestic and European routes in July and August, on top of 900 cancellations unveiled earlier this month. That’s around 4% of the carrier’s capacity during that period, according to a spokesperson. Lufthansa fell as much as 3.4% in Frankfurt. Travel demand has rebounded dramatically in Europe with the lifting of virus curbs, leaving some airlines struggling to cope and subjecting passengers to hours-long queues and cancellations. A new Covid-19 outbreak—while less deadly than previous waves—is causing growing absences from workplaces, worsening acute labor shortages. Growing labor unrest as workers seek pay increases to keep up with inflation is adding to the problem, with strikes threatened or under way at airlines including Ryanair and IAG’s British Airways. The developments are a fresh blow to the European aviation industry that was among the worst-affected during the pandemic, with airlines and airports losing billions of euros after the virus burst a decades-long travel boom. Carriers cut back staffing during the health crisis and have been slow to rebuild, worried about the resiliency of ticket sales. The Lufthansa cancellations add to disruptions at the region’s airports, which are struggling to attract ground-handling staff over pay disputes, further crimping capacity.<br/>
Lufthansa does not expect its global airline operations to return to normal until 2023 after staff shortages and booming demand amid the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions forced it to cancel some flights, Die Welt newspaper reported on Saturday. "Unfortunately, a short-term improvement now in the summer is hardly realistic," Lufthansa board member Detlef Kayser told Die Welt, adding the problem is global rather than exclusive to Germany and the only way out is to reduce the number of flights. Lufthansa has announced plans to scrap around 3,000 flights, or some 15% of its capacity, at its hubs in Frankfurt and Munich this summer. The German flag carrier is trying to ensure vacation routes are affected as little as possible, opting to cancel instead short- and medium-haul flights with many alternative travel options, Kayser told Die Welt.<br/>
Air India is considering hiring retired pilots, according to an airline official with knowledge of the matter, as the money-losing carrier seeks to bolster staff to prepare for one of the largest aircraft orders in commercial aviation history. The former state-run airline reached out to superannuated pilots, asking if they would be willing to opt for an extension, if offered, the official said, declining to specify any other details including the number of pilots and the duration of extension. A representative for Air India didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Air India’s move to increase manpower comes as the carrier, which was taken over by Tata Sons Pvt. in January, is considering ordering 300 Airbus SE A320neo jets or Boeing 737 Max models, or a mix of both. Air India is headed for a revamp under new Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson, who previously led Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s budget unit. Tata Sons has assigned 150b rupees ($1.9b) to revive Air India and there will be visible progress in 12-24 months, Chairman N. Chandrasekaran told the Economic Times newspaper earlier this month. The salt-to-software conglomerate is working on the airline’s fleet, ground handling, network planning, IT systems, maintenance and training, he said. The Press Trust of India earlier reported that Air India informed retired pilots they are being considered for contracts for the role of commander for five years or until the age of 65, whichever is earlier, citing the airline’s Deputy General Manager for Personnel Vikas Gupta.<br/>