American Recalls TWA Flight Attendants

**moose135** · 2007-08-15, 07:00 PM

American Recalls TWA Attendants

By Ted Reed
TheStreet.com Staff Reporter
8/15/2007 3:15 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Some good things are happening for former TWA flight attendants.

American Airlines, a unit of AMR (AMR - Cramer's Take - Stockpickr - Rating), said Wednesday that it will recall 460 of the defunct carrier's former flight attendants, its second such recall this year.

Meanwhile, Sen. Claire McCaskill ( D., Mo.) has introduced a bill to help flight attendants who will remain on American's recall list. The bill would extend recall rights to 10 years at airlines, including American, that received financial help from the federal government after the Sept. 11 attacks.

When TWA merged with American in 2001, about 3,000 flight attendants migrated. All of them were laid off when the industry downsized following the terrorist attacks. A recall of 200 American flight attendants this past May included 103 from TWA, of whom 83 returned to work.

For the rest, recall rights -- limited to an industry standard five years -- have either expired or will soon expire.

It's about damn time!

**T-Bird76** · 2007-08-15, 07:27 PM

Good for them! AA will have some class in its cabins!

**moose135** · 2007-08-15, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by T-Bird76

Good for them! AA will have some class in its cabins!

Was just scanning the A.net thread on this, and someone posted that the most junior of the TWA FAs recalled has a TWA seniority date of 1975. Looks like they are getting some of the most experienced folks out there.

**hiss srq** · 2007-08-15, 07:41 PM

Well at least they will know how to keep a safe cabin in that event but the flip side says there will be limited eye candy out of them.

**emshighway** · 2007-08-15, 08:14 PM

Won't most of them be around 60 yo by now :?

**T-Bird76** · 2007-08-16, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by emshighway

Won't most of them be around 60 yo by now :?

A good portion of today's FA's are getting "up there." Its interesting when you fly most legacy carriers today that you don't have young FA's working the flights instead the more Sr. crews are working. A clear sign of how senority works in the unions.

**mirrodie** · 2007-08-16, 03:15 PM

How long have these FAs been out of work?

**Mateo** · 2007-08-16, 08:57 PM

Yeah, and when you fly a regional, the FA looks like she's cutting 7th period English!

**moose135** · 2007-08-16, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by mirrodie

How long have these FAs been out of work?

Nearly 5 years. When AA took over TWA in 2001, they all went to the bottom of the AA seniority list. After the downsizing following the 9/11 attacks, they were the first to be laid off.

**mirrodie** · 2007-08-16, 10:01 PM

So I wonder how many FAs AA really expects to return.
I wonder how many of those FA's, now with other jobs or moved on, would actually come back?

**hiss srq** · 2007-08-16, 11:55 PM

One of my co workers downstairs is a former TW F/A layed off in 01' as I found out today talking on the Emp. Shuttle bus. He was hired in 89 and he is no place near close to getting the call back. Next April and that is it if he does not get the call. I am keeping my fingers crossed for him.