American low cost JetBlue Airways plans to increase the salaries of hostesses and stewards and offer bonuses, with the aim of obtaining the support from the cabin crew union (PNC) for his acquisition of rival Spirit Airlinesreported the channel CNBC.
From November, hostesses and stewards will benefit from a 5% increaseand including previously negotiated bonuses and increases, their total increase will be 21.5% by 2026. In addition to the pay increases, JetBlue Airways has pledged not to lay off or displace flight attendants and not close bases where they are already based for seven years after the potential acquisition of Spirit Airlines.
These financial incentives in favor of its PNC come as JetBlue Airways seeks to acquire its rival Spirit Airlines, a merger contested by the Department of Justice during a trial which will begin on October 16 in Boston, CNBC recalled. Indeed, the American Department of Justice filed a complaint to oppose the takeover of Spirit Airlines by JetBlue Airways (for $3.8 billion), estimating that the merger of the two American low-cost airlines could create a monopoly.
With its low-cost economic model, Spirit Airlines “increased competition and lowered fares on hundreds of lines across the country”, but JetBlue Airways wants “abandon this model» low costs, «reduce the number of seats on Spirit Airlines planes” And “charge customers more“, explained the Department of Justice in its complaint. In short, according to American authorities, the merger of the two airlines would lead to higher plane ticket prices and therefore fewer options for Americans.
