First Indy, Now SFO?

If United Airlines has its way, there could be almost 4,500 mechanics in the San Francisco area looking for work in the future. United closed its Indy maintenance facility a few years ago. Now it is considering closing its SFO base and outsourcing the work (the airline already outsources 46 percent of its maintenance). Editor's Note: Shortly after this blog was originally posted, AMT spoke with a United spokesperson who says the airline has no intention of closing its SFO maintenance base. See comment below. je The Teamsters, along with mechanics and politicians, are fighting to keep the jobs in the area. They may be fighting an uphill battle. More and more airlines are outsourcing more and more of their maintenance. The trend continues with no turnaround in sight. It is pretty clear we are witnessing a major shift in the way airlines run their businesses. They are fiercely focused on flying passengers from point A to point B at the most cost-effective price, period. They are more focused on controlling costs of maintenance than controlling the maintenance that is performed. They are more concerned with offsetting fuel prices than with customer satisfaction. But we can't put all the blame on the airlines. Their decisions are based on evolving customer demands. Gone are the days of customer brand loyalty. Nowadays, the flying public will switch airlines quicker than Hollywood celebrities switch rehab centers just to save a few bucks. Most of us have witnessed similar change in business models with service stations. Up until the early 70's, there was no such thing as a self-service gas station. When you pulled into a gas station, you not only got a full tank of gas, you had the fluids checked in your vehicle, tire pressures checked and your windshield cleaned -- all without having to step out of the vehicle. Service stations had their own mechanics on staff, ready to work on your car at a moment's notice. Now fast forward to almost 40 years later. Full service stations are mostly a thing of the past. You now have convenience stores. The cost (and convenience) of having service attendants on duty has been done away with. Now, you fill up your own car. You don't even have to bother the cashier, you can swipe your credit card and pay at the pump. Things have changed quite a bit in those 40 years. Think about some of the changes the airlines have already made. Passengers book their own tickets online. Want to talk to a live person? That'll cost you extra, and you'll probably be talking to someone in India. Meals have been done away with for most domestic flights. Some offer a limited amount of meals -- for a price. Want to check luggage? On some airlines it better be just one bag. More than one? That'll cost extra. So, what will the airline maintenance landscape look like in 40 years? There is no question -- the aircraft the airlines operate will still need to be inspected and maintained. But how and where will that happen? Thanks for reading, Joe Escobar