B757-200 FO NOTES THE COMPANY HAS REDUCED A SCHEDULED TRIP PARING TO BE LESS THAN 8 HRS SO THAT A RELIEF PLT IS NOT REQUIRED; OR SCHEDULED. THE AVERAGE FLT TIME OF THE PARING EXCEEDS 8 HRS.

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JFK-SXM-JFK BLOCK TIMES AND SAFETY ISSUES. LAST MONTH I SUBMITTED AN ASAP CONCERNING BLOCK TIMES ON THE JFK-SXM-JFK TURNAROUND TRIP. THE BLOCK TIME HAD INEXPLICABLY BEEN REDUCED TO 7 HRS 55 MINS ON THIS TRIP; - DESPITE A MONTHLY AVERAGE APCHING 8 HRS 20 MINS IN BLOCK TIME. THE BLOCK TIME REDUCTION ELIMINATED THE NEED FOR A THIRD PLT. THE RESPONSE FROM THE RPT INDICATED THAT THIS PROB WAS BEING 'FIXED' BY A NEW ROUTING AND BY WORKING WITH JFK RAMP. AT THE SAME TIME; A RELIEF PLT WAS ADDED TO THE TRIPS IN JULY. THE AUGUST SCHEDULE; HOWEVER; INDICATES THAT THIS TRIP IS STILL BLOCKED FOR 7 HOURS 55 MINS AND 2 PLTS WILL BE USED FOR THIS SEQUENCE. THIS IS IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE TRIP HAS EXCEEDED 8 HRS 57 PERCENT OF THE TIME IN JULY AND AVERAGES 8 HRS 11 MINS IN BLOCK TIME THROUGH JUL/THU. ONCE AGAIN; I AM CONCERNED AT WHAT SEEMS TO BE ON THE SURFACE; A MANIPULATION OF BLOCK TIME IN ORDER TO SAVE MONEY ON STAFFING. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THE REGS AND CONTINUE TO PUT SAFETY OVER FINANCIAL CONCERNS.