Frontier Airlines has introduced a significant policy change that impacts new pilots, informing them that they will be required to reimburse the airline nearly $60,000 if they decide to leave within the first two years of employment. This new initiative, termed the ‘Training Cost Repayment Agreement’, is set to be implemented starting May 1, 2024.
The Denver-based budget airline has specified that the cost of training a new pilot amounts to $59,190. This figure represents a substantial investment by Frontier in its crew, which it seeks to protect through this repayment agreement. According to the airline, this agreement is aimed at fostering long-term commitment from its pilots, ensuring that they remain with Frontier to justify the training expenditure.
The memo sent to potential new hires explains the rationale behind this policy: “The time/cost invested in each of our new pilots is significant… To help retain our new hire pilots and leverage our investment in them, we will be asking for a 2-year commitment.”
Frontier Airlines is also shifting its operational strategy to an out-and-back model, a system prevalent among European low-cost carriers. This approach involves airplanes and their crews returning to their home base each night, which Frontier believes offers a better quality of life for its crew by providing more days off and improving operational reliability, especially during irregular operations.
However, this new model has not been well-received by all. The flight attendants at Frontier have expressed discontent with the out-and-back model, arguing that it reduces their earnings and increases their personal expenses on accommodations and commuting. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) has highlighted that many of Frontier’s crew members do not reside near their bases and often commute long distances, thus relying on multi-day trips where accommodations are covered by Frontier. The union is urging the airline to renegotiate the flight attendant contract to better align with the new operational strategy.
This development is part of broader trends in the airline industry where companies are finding innovative ways to manage training costs and crew retention amidst fluctuating market dynamics and operational challenges.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, paddleyourownkanoo.com
