Unions at United Airlines have vowed to fight what they say is the company's plan to create a low-cost, low-fares subsidiary that would revive the failed Shuttle by United. Pilot and flight attendant unions charged that a new discount carrier would constitute a break-up of United. Air Line Pilots Association chief Paul Whiteford vowed to fight the plan "by every lawful means available to us". The Association of Flight Attendants made a similar pledge, charging that United wanted to eliminate as many as 40% of its main-line flights, spin them off to the new low-fares unit and staff them with a separate set of lower-paid workers. The low-cost unit is a key to United's plan to emerge from the bankruptcy protection it sought in December.
Source: Flight International