For a long time, «austerity airline» Estonian Air has threatened staff with lay-offs. Therefore, the dismissals now announced should not have hit the redundant pilots as surprise. All in all, their ranks will be thinned by 19 aviators.
Estonian Air hands out pink slips
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«Due to shrinking of flight capacity and amount of planes, since January this year (the airline, in weeks to come, returning two SAAB type planes), the company needs less pilots to service its flight schedule,» said the Estonian Air press secretary Ilona Eskelinen.
From April 1st already, former Boeing and CRJ900 chief pilot Mart Lubi – by now a kind of a «firm face» for Estonian Air and pilots’ media spokesman – is also no longer on the EA payroll.
«All said, it was formalised as a lay-off. As Boeing type planes, as such, stop flying,» explained Mr Lubi, adding that, in reality, the Boeing ceased flying since autumn. Mr Lubi’s redundancy was already on the agenda in the first half of last year. However, he then kept his job.
«Abroad, probably. As we all know, the Estonian aviation market is quite barren,» he said in answer to a question regarding his future.
The same fate – going to work for foreign airlines – probably awaits other EA pilots as well.
Based on length of employment, the pilots were notified of upcoming redundancies three to four months in advance. Meaning, pursuant to Estonian Air and Estonian Pilots Trade Association (ELA) collective agreement, that the pilots will be working for EA for the advance notice term i.e. till end of June or July.
According to a pilot contacting Postimees, the advance notice time is, humanly speaking, too long and creates excessive stress for people working at positions with high responsibility. The ELA head Rauno Menning was unavailable yesterday to clarify their stand towards the long advance notice term. However, pilots have often sounded the alarm on excess stress greatly impacting flight safety.
Estonian Air press secretary said the company is busy «finding additional tasks for flight crews and planes, which, if realised, will help avoid further lay-offs or cut the volumes thereof».
Estonian Air currently employs 197 people. Only last year, the number was 337. The company has 10 planes, two of which will in near future be returned to the leasing firm.