No word on Ryan pilots, but potential international consequences

Add comment November 5th, 2007

Got my first international e-mail today at work (well, first that wasn’t asking for my social security and bank account numbers). A gentleman from Paraguay was concerned because his family is booking a trip on Bolivian airline AeroSur, which contracts with Rockford-based Ryan International Airlines for many of its flights. He was worried that a possible strike by Ryan pilots could affect his trip.

Well, I admit I have no clue what’s going to happen next, having never covered a transportation mediation before, but federal labor officials say strikes are very rare. That said, I’m checking with both sides this week and will see what I’ve found. The pilots have yet to walk away from the table, and it would take a month “cooling-off period” before a work stoppage could be called.

Ryan also flies for the U.S. Department of Defense and several vacation groups. I’ll be checking with them on the effect of a Ryan strike, should it happen.

If you are connected to Ryan in some way, please feel free to contact me with information at tbona@rrstar.com.