Singapore's A380 pilots win pay arbitration

by Derek Yeo - SINGAPORE - 25 May 2007

SINGAPORE Airlines' A380 pilots today received a big nod from the Industrial Arbitration Court, in their case against SIA's management for a higher salary than their B747-400 counterparts.**

Through their professional union, Airlines Pilots Association - Singapore, they had argued that the bigger capacity Airbus justified their case.

SIA disagreed. The airline argued that the Airbus pilots should be paid less because the A380 is easier to fly than the Boeing plane.

The court ruled in the union's favour; further, it determined that a A380 captain's minimum pay should be set at S$10,700 - S$700 more than that for B747-400 captains.

The court's ruling in favour of ALPA-S notwithstanding, the IAC neither backed the union's position nor the airline's stance. The court also hoped that the case would not damage the cordial working relationship existing between both parties.

A happy President of ALPA-S, Captain P James, expressed satisfaction over the verdict. Although the union had fought for a pay margin of $1000 between the Airbus and Boeing pilots, he was pleased with the S$700 awarded. It amounted to more than two-thirds of what the union asked for.

** Note: See commentary dated 29 April 2007 by DEREK YEO

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