Continental Airlines Finds Loophole in Arbitration Decision

Republic Airlines flys in Violation of Arbitration

Earlier this month, the pilots for Continental Airlines, represented by the Airline Pilots Association (ALPA), were pleased when an arbitrator ruled in their favor. The issue was over the airlines violation of an agreement in the pilot’s contract which prevents the company from outsourcing Continental flights to another carrier in jet aircraft with more than 59 seats.

When Continental scheduled flights to be operated by Republic Airlines using 70 seat Regional Jets, the pilots marched and filed a grievance against the company. The matter went to arbitration, and the pilots thought that they won. However, it appears that the airline found a loophole in the arbitrator’s decision.

In his decision, arbitrator Richard Bloch order The company “…cease and desist advertising and placing the CO code on such flights.” Continental used this language to simply change the designation on the flights to United codes as the company is currently completing the merger with united.

When we inquired, via the united reservation line, about one of the flights in question from Newark this week, however, the operator told us that it was a continental flight and that we needed to call continental.