'Fix our schedules': Delta pilots picket at SLC Airport

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) — Pilots for Delta Airlines picketed at the Salt Lake International Airport, saying their schedules have been packed and they've been overworked since the pandemic began.

The picket began at 10 a.m. Thursday at Terminal 1.

According to a statement from Air Line Pilots Association International, pilots have been flying longer days as well as working additional shifts. They're demanding improvements to their schedules ahead of the summer travel season.

"We've flown record amounts of overtime during the pandemic to help Delta operate its schedule and get our passengers safely to their destinations," said Capt. Jason Ambrosi in the ALPA statement. "In many cases, pilots are flying long after their day or trip was supposed to end."

Ambrosi, the chairman of the Delta Master Executive Council of ALPA, said the pilot's union motto is "Schedule with Safety."

"Delta cannot continue to operate the schedule at redline with no room for error," he said.

Pilots are the last line of defense to stopping an operation in the case of pilot fatigue, Abrosi added.

"However, too often we are being pushed to our limits as Delta tries to add back flying and capture revenue," he said. "We're here today to tell management that they need to listen to their pilots and fix fatiguing schedules."

Delta pilots also picketed at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta in March. Ambrosi posted a video of the demonstration to his Twitter account.

"Today the delta pilots are picketing in Atlanta to show our frustration about fatiguing and poor quality rotations," Ambrosi says in the video.

The 2-minute clip shows pilots holding signs saying "If I look tired it's because I am," and "Fatiguing schedules = poor reliability," among others.

"Delta, it is time to listen to your pilots," Ambrosi says. "We can't be any clearer than we are now, standing shoulder to shoulder."

Captain Evan Baach was one of the pilots who stood outside the airport.

“I’ve been an airline pilot with Delta Airlines for just about six years," Baach said. "We have the best job in the world."

But he says lately that job has been tiring. And they’re picketing to send Delta management a message.

“We’re here on our off day, that’s how much we care about this issue,” Baach said. “Delta is scheduling more flights than pilots that they have available.”

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2News reached out to Delta for their response to the picket. A spokesperson shared this statement,

"This informational exercise by some of our off-duty pilots will not disrupt our operation for our customers. We continuously evaluate our staffing models and plan ahead so that we can recover quickly when unforeseen circumstances arise, and the resilience of the Delta people is unmatched in that regard. Pilot schedules remain in line with all requirements set by the FAA as well as those outlined in our pilot contract. All of our people, including our pilots, are working hard to restore our airline and deliver for our customers as we emerge from the pandemic. We are grateful for and proud of their efforts."

Baach said pilots are working a record amount of overtime, and he said the scheduling could ultimately impact reliability for passengers

“They’ve come to expect a certain level of reliability and our concern is that the buffer isn’t there on a bad weather day for example. Our pilots are picking up the slack, but we’re tired and we want the company to make changes now," Baach said.

And for passengers like Rebecca Salo, she said she’s already seen first hand the scheduling stress crews seem to be under across the board.

“I think it’s plaguing all the airlines, because I’ve had nothing but issues no matter who I fly," Salo said. "It's totally impacting me, I travel all the time."

Salo gave an example in which the shortage effected her flights last week.

“We had no plane, then we finally got a plane, then we didn’t have a crew...” Salo said. “They either got to have less flights on their schedule or they got to hire and ramp up.”

Which is pretty much what pilots like Baach are asking for. He said they’re in contract negotiations right now, and said that Delta has acknowledged their concerns.

“We want the company to match their words with action and fix our schedules now," Baach said.

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