AA pilots picket oneworld welcome ceremony for Qatar Airways

The oneworld frequent-flier alliance rolled out the red carpet for new member Qatar Airways this afternoon (Oct. 8) in New York City.

American Airlines CEO Tom Horton was on hand to tout the alliance's new partner, as was Willie Walsh — the top executive of the parent company of British Airways and Iberia.

However, not everyone offered such an enthusiastic greeting.

A handful of American Airlines pilots showed up at the event, picketing Qatar Airways' inclusion in the alliance.

Associated Press reporter Scott Mayerowitz writes:

American's pilots, however, aren't happy about the deal. They are in a nasty contract dispute with the company as it restructures in federal bankruptcy court. They picketed Monday's event saying partnerships like the new one with Qatar are costing them jobs.

"It's cutting in on our flying and our jobs," AA Capt. John Diacsuk tells AP's Mayerowitz. "How do you maintain morale at a company where everybody is getting pink slips."

Qatar Airways currently flies to three cities in the USA: New York JFK, Washington Dulles and Houston Bush Intercontinental. The airline plans to add a fourth U.S. destination — Chicago O'Hare — in April 2013.

Qatar Airways' flights between the USA and its hub in Doha generally range from 12 to 16 hours each way, depending on the route and direction of travel.

This isn't the first time American and its pilots have sparred over extended long-haul routes.

In 2007, AA abandoned efforts to fly nonstop between Dallas/Fort Worth and Beijing after a contract impasse with pilots over the work time needed to staff the long flight.

As part of that internal dispute, American asked the Department of Transportation to resubmit its bid seeking the route authority to fly from Dallas/Fort Worth to Chicago O'Hare with continuing service to Beijing. The return still would have gone from Beijing to Dallas/Fort Worth non-stop, since prevailing winds in that direction typically make for a shorter flight time.

It was all for naught, however, as the DOT opted to give the route to United.