Jetstar puts pressure on pilot families

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) has called on Jetstar to stop causing disruption to pilots and their families without proper consultation and proper process. In six weeks the airline will no longer permanently base an aircraft or its staff in Hobart and all Jetstar pilots have been asked to nominate their preferred base as Jetstar restructures its network.

Captain Barry Jackson, AIPA President said pilots had weathered the stress of a home base closure, involuntary redundancy and forced relocation, all so Jetstar can further lower its costs.

“The travelling lifestyle of a pilot puts a lot of pressure on family life. When you are not at home you want to make sure that your family has a good support structure around them and your kids have the stability of school and friends,” said Captain Jackson.

“Jetstar must enter into meaningful consultation with the Association to clarify and discuss the impact the restructuring of Jetstar will have on its pilots,” said Captain Jackson.

Requests by AIPA to meet with airline management have been ignored. The budget airline has consistently tried to keep the Association at arm’s length in a bid to cut costs and employment standards.

“Despite AIPA representing more than a third of all Jetstar pilots, the Association has been kept in the dark over the wider restructuring of the airline that Jetstar is trying to achieve.

“This is yet another example of Jetstar failing to consult and provide information, which in a time of financial crisis is unsettling and stressful to pilots and their families,” said Captain Jackson.

Published in AIPA Media Releases - 2009