Tulsa AA Maintenance Hub To Maintain Allegiant Air jets

Monday, December 18th 2006, 11:46 am

By: News On 6

Thereâ€™s good news for Tulsa's largest employer, American Airlines. The company signed a four year, $30-million contract, providing more work for mechanics at the maintenance facility.

News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin says company officials are very excited about the deal doing maintenance for Allegiant Air, a small carrier providing service mainly between Las Vegas and Florida.

The deal doesn't create any new jobs, but it is another sign that this operation which laid off more than 700 people two years ago, is making a comeback.

Allegiant Air's entire fleet, made up of about 24 MD-80's, will now regularly be run through a thorough maintenance check in Tulsa hangars.

Officials say while other major carriers have shut down their facilities and outsourced maintenance, American Airlines has been working hard to not only keep its branch alive, but thriving.

This new deal is the company's first long-term maintenance contract.

"It's the start of a big deal, because as you know we've been working the past year and a half to overcome the entire marketplace, because all of our legacy partners have left this business and we're the only ones left," said Carmine Romano, AA Tulsa Maintenance Vice President.

The Tulsa operation is the largest commercial airline maintenance facility in the world. Officials say third party contracts like this one mean job security for local workers. Mechanics hope it's also a positive sign for the future of those who suffered during the round of layoffs.

"This is not going to initiate a recall, but it has initiated job reassignments which have meant money to the workers," said Dennis Burchette, Union President TWU Local 514

"The more work we bring in, the more apt we are to be able to get our people on the street back to work," Mechanic Supervisor GT Bunch said.

Company officials say to survive they first had to pare down the workforce, then work more efficiently, attracting new customers. With just under 6,000 mechanics, they now hope to expand this operation.

"We feel that we have a competitive advantage here in Tulsa and this kind of reinforces what we're trying to do as we go forward," Romano said.

A major part of the turnaround plan is an agreement between union leaders and management to work together.

"We turned a profit the first two quarters of this year here, with the fuel prices the highest they've ever been, so something we're doing is right," said Bunch.

American Airlines is working on getting more hangar space over the next two years to allow for growth. The airlines says if more contracts follow this one, they could start bringing workers back.