A report in The Age says that Virgin Blue is being forced to cancel flights due to a shortage of pilots as it prepares for the arrival of the new Embraer aircraft, with the cancellations, believed to be up to five flights a day, also coming as the union continues talks on a enterprise bargaining agreement.
Virgin Blue said several pilots had been taken off scheduled flights for Embraer training, with the Brazilian jets due later this year.
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said the training had resulted in some cancellations and Virgin Blue had made “limited” changes to its May schedule.
She added, “To put it in context, changes relate to 1% to 2% of our overall flights across the network”. “The airline will resume its full schedule in June.”
Australian Federation of Air Pilots spokesman Terry O’Connell said enterprise bargaining talks were continuing, with union members voting against an agreement in December, adding, “We are aware that there have been some flight cancellations and the company may have to make some changes to the schedules.”
Analysts have predicted an upgrade of Virgin Blue’s earnings forecast following a 2.8% increase in the load factor to 82% this financial year, it having increased 5.5% in March.
Report by The Mole from The Age
