FedEx plans to establish pilot bases in Paris and Hong Kong, saving it the cost of gettingU.S.-based pilots to work and giving it more operational flexibility, the Memphis Commercial Appeal
newspaper reported.The Memphis-based company and the pilots’ union are discussing an amendment to the pilots’contract, including cost-of living stipends and details about the planes FedEx intends to fly ineach market, the newspaper said. It cited David Webb, chairman of the FedEx master executivecouncil of the Air Line Pilots Association, as saying pilots could bid for the routes this year. AFedEx spokesman confirmed the talks but said there was no rush to reorganise the pilots’ workingconditions.
Pilot bases in Europe and Asia could save FedEx millions of dollars in commuting costs forpilots who have to fly to overseas destinations before being able to steer the FedEx cargo planes.FedEx currently has pilot bases in Memphis, Los Angeles, Subic Bay and Anchorage, Alaska.
