Aeronauts reject Azul’s proposal and the crisis of canceled flights extends

Azul pilots and flight attendants rejected this Wednesday (12) the company’s proposal to reduce the number of days off in February and March, in exchange for a monthly food stamp of R$ 463.21.

Azul had proposed an ACT (Collective Work Agreement) that involved, in addition to the optional reduction in the number of days off, the publication of fortnightly shifts and no longer monthly, as usual.

Presented on Monday night (10) live by the SNA (National Union of Aeronauts), the proposal was an attempt by Azul to minimize the impact of the reduction of the team, removed after contamination with Covid-19, in the face of the advance of the variant omicron. Between the 6th and 12th of January alone, the total number of canceled flights adds up to 765.

The airline’s situation is the most critical, because the company was already working at 100% of its capacity. Azul has already started the process of hiring aeronauts, especially flight attendants, but the process takes time, as it is a highly specialized workforce.

According to Ondino Dutra, president of the SNA, more than 2,000 aeronauts participated in the vote and, of these, 74% answered no to the proposal.

“The result is a reflection of the crew’s historical dissatisfaction with their duty rosters,” Dutra told leaf. “Professionals do not feel recognized for their efforts in recent times, especially after they have accepted salary reductions and several operational flexibility”.

The SNA has been receiving several complaints about flight schedules planned with a reduced number of flight attendants, which goes against the regiments of the category.

The union sent a letter to Anac (National Civil Aviation Agency) informing that only on January 6 there were 16 flights carried out with a reduced team. On that date, Azul began to report the cancellation of flights, which then represented 5% of its network, the equivalent of 45 trips in the day.

“It is important to note that many captains who would have operated with the allegedly planned reduced crew previously and formally inquired of the airline about the legality of the act, and the company, by email, informed that such a circumstance would be an exception to the rule, and that it would be authorized by ​Anac and the Directorate of Operations”, says the letter sent by the SNA to Anac.

The aeronauts’ union asked the agency to investigate the complaints received regarding possible operations with reduced crews and, if non-compliance with the rule is verified, take the appropriate measures.

Questioned by leaf, Anac informed that all complaints received by “are duly investigated”. According to the agency, “if any evidence of irregularity is found, an administrative process is initiated to investigate the facts and adopt the relevant administrative measures”.

wanted by leaf, Azul did not return until the closing of this report.