UPS to cut planned pilot lay-offs

UPS has said it is reducing planned pilot furloughs from 300 to 230. The company said the move was down to the world’s improving economic condition, but also warned that “current economic signals remain mixed, and we believe that the recovery will be gradual.”

In February, UPS has said it would lay-off at least 300 of its 2,800 airline pilots, saying that it had been working with its union, the Independent Pilots Association (IPA), for the past year to identify ways to cut operating costs to avoid any pilot furloughs.

To date, UPS has released 109 pilots.

UPS spokesman Norman Black said: “Our business model is pretty simple: packages equal jobs. Our hope is that the economy improves to the point we can return more employees to work. We will continue to examine business conditions and adjust pilot staffing levels appropriately in the future.”