United Airlines expects to cut flying by 2.1 percent during the current quarter, as traffic declines. The biggest cuts are in domestic flying capacity, which is shrinking by 2.5 percent in the quarter that ends on Sunday. Traffic is expected to fall between 1.1 percent and 2.1 percent, the airline said. The biggest drop is in domestic traffic, too.
Not surprising, we've been giving more and more line stations UAX planes instead of mainline for more and more flights. Some routes are exclusively UAX, like MSP-DEN and (I think) DEN-MCI. Surprisingly, there are still some mainline flights in OKC, ICT, and I think even FSD last I checked. Weird business.
We get heavy work loads here and lots of overtime. Nonstop. Maintenance wise that is. With the added airbuses and 787's, its crazy here. If my job slowed down 1.2 percent, I wouldn't notice the difference.
....and I actually got "FORCED" to work July 4th. First time that's happened to me. They got everyone that signed up and then resorted to the "Draft". That's double time pay on my regular scheduled day. Not really crying the blues.
Somehow I got Christmas off on my very first year w/ no seniority........then I've worked it every single year since........and we all know I've got a lot of years in this business ;)
I've had every weekend and recognized holiday off since I started. But I guess that's a little easier when you've got an office job ;)
I've worked most weekends all of my life, don't like the weekends off, not used to the crowds in restaurants and traffic during rush hours I don't deal with. A holiday off is nice, but the pay is nice when you work it, so its not a bother. I can think of worse situations than working graveyards and holidays. I remember spending Christmas, birthdays, other holidays out at sea, in the Persian Gulf. This is easy street for me. Much cooler at night too. Less traffic and chiefs walking around all on your business.