Singapore Airlines pilots say A380 warrants higher salaries
Singapore (XFN-ASIA) - Singapore Airlines Ltd (SIA) pilots
wrapped up their submissions to an arbitration court here that is trying to
settle their pay dispute with the airline, saying they deserved higher salaries
The president of the Air Line Pilots Association of Singapore (ALPA-S), Captain P James, said higher salaries to fly the A380, the world's biggest passenger plane, fit long-established practice.
"Different fleets command different pay. This is market practice and has also been the company's practice," he told the Industrial Arbitration Court.
The court's three-day hearing concluded today.
The pilots' union and SIA have until next month to submit final written arguments to the court, which will then set a date for announcing the outcome of the case.
SIA wants to peg the A380 pilots' salaries to that of the pay scale for the Boeing B777, on which a captain earns a starting salary of 9,300 sgd.
The airline has committed itself to buying 19 A380s.