Pilots yield on scope, as airlines struggle
The decision by US Airways and United Airlines to test the scope-clause language in their pilot contracts after September 11 appeared fully vindicated last

The decision by US Airways and United Airlines to test the scope-clause language in their pilot contracts after September 11 appeared fully vindicated last month, as both airlines’ Air Line Pilots Association chapters agreed to withdraw their force majeure grievances during negotiations aimed at resuscitating the ailing major carriers.

Perhaps more significantly, the tentative US Airways contract would grant authority for 465 regional jets throughout its US Airways Express regional network. Meanwhile, the United tentative agreement lowered the floor on the minimum number of narrowbody mainline jets from 451 to 388 until 2005, allowing United Express carriers to continue their current level of RJ flying and opening room for further growth through turboprop replacement and pro-rata increases based on total mainline fleet growth.