NKyTribune staff
Approximately 250 pilots responsible for cargo carrier ABX Air’s flying went on strike early Tuesday morning against their employer, ABX Air, Inc., and will not fly scheduled routes, including those for ABX’s major customers DHL and Amazon.
Striking pilots – who are represented by the Airline Professionals Association, Teamsters Local 1224 – are picketing outside of ABX Air’s headquarters in Wilmington and outside DHL’s North American hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
The pilots say ABX Air, which is owned by Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), has been significantly understaffed, resulting in pilots continuously being forced to work “emergency” assignments on their off time.
Earlier this year, pilots at ABX Air and four other cargo carriers that fly for DHL voted with 99 percent support to strike if it should become necessary.
The strike at the start of peak flying season could have a significant impact on the delivery operations of ABX’s customers, which include DHL and Amazon.
DHL and Amazon each issued brief statements regarding the strike:
“Due to a work stoppage affecting our airline partners, inbound deliveries to portions of the Americas will be delayed today. We are continuing to monitor the situation,” – Bea Garcia DHL Director of Media Relations – Americas.
“We work with a variety of carriers and are confident in our ability to serve customers” – Kelly Cheeseman, Amazon spokesperson.
ABX Air, which is owned by Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), operates 45 flights a day for DHL. Amazon customers will also see delays and disruptions. ATSG recently signed a contract with Amazon to fly 20 Prime Air planes by 2018 and is already flying 14 aircrafts – 35 flights a day – for the e-commerce giant.