80% chance of US/DL merger

Retiree, Where did HP get the money to buy out US ?

One thing for sure, HP themselves did'nt have the $$$$.
The money for the buyout came from Usairways employees that took HUGE pay and benefit cuts, and outside investors.
Don't have to ask Al Crellin, it's rather obvious.

Yes, because as we all know the USAirways employees suffered, just ask one and they will tell you, over and over, again and again, endlessly....
 
BEING A TEAMSTER WHO HAS BEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE ON ALL OF THIS THE WAY WE DO IT AND IT HAS WORKED IN MY INDUSTRY IS THIS.
MERGER, DOVETAIL HIRE DATE.
BK, PIECE MEAL, STAPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FULL TIME LIST
DELTA WORKER'S BE SURE IT'S A MERGER NOT A BUYOUT IN BK!!

NON UNION BECOMING UNION YOU STILL WOULD GET YOUR HIRE DATE AND KEEP YOUR SENORITY IN YOUR WORK GROUP.
MY BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU!
MY WIFE IS THE FLIGHT ATTENDENT AT AA AND HAS LET ME VIEW THE US AVIATION FORUMS.
TERRY D
 
The US folk have been trying to convince themselves that HP didn't buy them out, but they are starting to figure it out.

Ask Al Crellin!
Dont let the facts get in your way:

How US Airways/America West merger got off the ground
Talks between airlines began in 2003, but didn't get serious until this year
Sunday, May 22, 2005

By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The on-and-off, 18-month courtship between US Airways and America West Airlines finally clicked into place May 12 in Washington, D.C., high above the floor of the MCI Center, where executives from both airlines had gathered in US Airways' skybox to watch a Washington Wizards playoff game.

Just minutes before tip-off, with the din of exploding fireworks filling the arena, US Airways adviser John Luth received an e-mail on his BlackBerry from Air Canada Chief Executive Officer Robert Milton. It confirmed that Air Canada's board had approved an investment in the combined airline -- the final piece of a $1.5 billion financing package needed to make the deal work.

Luth waved his BlackBerry, smiled and gave everyone the news. He congratulated Doug Parker and Bruce Lakefield, the chief executive officers of America West and US Airways, and broad smiles broke out throughout the box.

The merger was on.

Announced a week later at the Tempe, Ariz., headquarters of America West, the agreement between the nation's seventh-and eight-largest airlines paired a twice-bankrupt, East Coast legacy carrier with a younger, smaller, low-cost airline that does much of its flying on the West Coast.

If they can win a slew of antitrust, shareholder and bankruptcy court approvals, US Airways and America West together would surpass discount king Southwest Airlines in size, becoming the No. 6 carrier in the nation. Together, they also could usher in an era of consolidation in the troubled airline industry, which has lost more than $30 billion since 2001.

But there were several twists along the way, according to people familiar with the events. America West was not the only carrier to express interest in US Airways, nor was America West the only partner US Airways pursued.

The search for a deal began in the fall of 2003, when David Siegel was still US Airways' chief executive officer. Siegel had led US Airways through its first bankruptcy and wrested more than $1 billion in concessions from the company's labor unions. But even as the carrier completed a painful round of cost cuts and emerged from bankruptcy, Siegel knew US Airways was still too small and too inefficient to compete against discounters such as Southwest, which had already announced plans to start service in Philadelphia, a US Airways' hub.

Siegel was convinced that for US Airways to avoid the fate of failed carriers such as Eastern Airlines and Pan Am, both of which liquidated in the 1980s, he would have to bring US Airways' costs down further and position the airline for consolidation with another carrier. He explored several options.

Acquire United Airlines, the nation's No. 2 carrier. That option was code-named "Project Minnow," with US Airways as the small fish gobbling the bigger one.

Combine with British entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic, which was interested in US Airways' Washington-Boston-New York shuttle, along with slots and gates in the Northeast.

Split the airline in two and merge the Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., hub-and-spoke network with one carrier and its slots and gates in Washington, Boston and New York with another.

But US Airways ultimately rejected those options. United did not have any interest in a deal and was too distracted by its own struggles in bankruptcy. Virgin Atlantic wanted lots of US Airways assets -- gates, planes, airport equipment -- to help launch a new U.S. airline, but all it would offer in retrun was the Virgin brand name. US Airways also turned down several inquiries from other carriers -- including Southwest, JetBlue Airways and AirTran Airways -- about acquiring the company's assets but not its employees.

In the end, only America West wanted both.

Siegel made the initial connection. He knew Parker and Executive Vice President Scott Kirby at America West. Their first face-to-face meeting was in October 2003, over dinner in a Washington, D.C., restaurant. They were joined by then-US Airways Chief Financial Officer Neal Cohen.

But the talks ended several months later. At the request of US Airways' board, Siegel departed from the company in April 2004. According to Parker, the first round of discussions failed because US Airways' costs were still too high. Siegel had started a campaign to lower union costs further, but labor leaders refused to deal with him, contributing to his ouster.

Retired Lehman Bros. executive Bruce Lakefield, a friend of US Airways chairman David Bronner, replaced Siegel and sought to save US Airways. He asked unions to help with another round of concessions. When that failed, Lakefield took the company into bankruptcy again and squeezed another $1 billion in concessions from the unions, using the power of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to hammer home new contracts modeled after America West's labor agreements.

In January, with fuel prices at a record high and doubts aired about US Airways' survival after its Christmas baggage meltdown in Philadelphia, Lakefield picked up the phone and called Parker, suggesting that "maybe we should begin those talks again," according to Parker.

But America West did not have enough cash to lift US Airways out of bankruptcy. It was up to Luth, the US Airways adviser, to find enough investment money to piece the deal together and give the combined company a fighting chance to thrive in the battered airline industry.

Luth and US Airways had serious discussions with more than a dozen investors. They all requested shared participation in a merged airline -- no one wanted to take on all the risk. The Retirement Systems of Alabama, which rescued US Airways from its first bankruptcy in 2003 with a $240 million investment, stands to lose it all if US Airways emerges from bankruptcy and issues new stock.

Luth went after the companies that had something to gain from an investment in US Airways and America West. Aircraft maker Airbus agreed to provide $250 million in exchange for US Airways' pledge to buy dozens of A320 jets in the future. Regional commuter carrier Air Wisconsin Airlines made a $125 million investment in exchange for a jet services partnership. The Appleton, Wis.-based airline will fly for the merged carrier on a contract basis.

Credit card companies may provide $300 million in order to reach new customers. And once-bankrupt Air Canada offered $75 million, good for a 7 percent stake in the new company, in exchange for the rights to bid on the maintenance contract for the new carrier's fleet of 361 jets.

Air Canada was the last in line.


Once its approval came last Thursday, employees at both airlines scrambled to obtain approval from their boards of directors. US Airways' directors signed off Wednesday, over the telephone. America West's board approved it Thursday, in Tempe.


Labor leaders were briefed, and a press release was sent out. Parker and Lakefield spent much of Thursday night explaining the deal to reporters before Lakefield took a red-eye flight back to Washington. Parker, who has been tapped to lead the merged airline, met with employees and went home. Before going to bed, he explained the deal in one final live shot with local TV, from his house.
 
700 -- This is the second time you have quoted the PIT newspaper. Of course they are going to say that. Don't you trust what Boyd aviation has to say about Parker ?
Like they said , people should be lighting candles in front of Doug Parker photo's.
 
Well PIT does not like US, maybe you will understand that Seabury and associates working for US raised the money for the merger, not Doug nor America West.

And I could give a rat's ### about a CEO who lines his pockets at the worker's expense.

One merger is far from completed, the webpage is a mess and he wants another merger, he needs to be drug tested.
 
Yes, because as we all know the USAirways employees suffered, just ask one and they will tell you, over and over, again and again, endlessly....
Yeah, You're Darn Right, We'll tell you over and over and over, [until it sinks in], AWA did NOT have the $$$$$,
Now Please, Try to have a nice Thanksgiving.....and a nice early retirement.
 
NON UNION BECOMING UNION YOU STILL WOULD GET YOUR HIRE DATE AND KEEP YOUR SENORITY IN YOUR WORK GROUP.

You need to read the US Airways CBA's before you post wrong information. All US Organized labor have seniority protection in their contracts.

The only work group at Delta that may get slotted are the pilots. Why you may ask? They're the only work group on DL property who have a contract. All the others will be placed at the BOTTOM OF THE SENIORITY LIST. That's a fact!
 
You are 100% wrong Nor'Easta.

AFA goes DOH as does the IAM and CWA.

All Agents, FAs, Mechanic and Related and Ramp were dovetailed, no one was placed at the bottom.

In evey single merger that US was involved with everyone except pilots got dovetailed, no one was stapled.

Stop spreading misinformation.
 
Having worked for 3 airlines...for over 23 years, the last 17 at US Airways...I can say this. Not every employee is good or bad. Not every employer is better or worse.
I try to do my personal best. ALL Airlines are the same. Just different times, different problems,ups and downs... different CEO's. Every airline has it's hey day...and it's down times. Some come back, some don't.
Delta is NO better than anyone else, nor is US Airways the worse. So please...no pissing contest...it's simply childish. :down:
 
Having worked for 3 airlines...for over 23 years, the last 17 at US Airways...I can say this. Not every employee is good or bad. Not every employer is better or worse.
I try to do my personal best. ALL Airlines are the same. Just different times, different problems,ups and downs... different CEO's. Every airline has it's hey day...and it's down times. Some come back, some don't.
Delta is NO better than anyone else, nor is US Airways the worse. So please...no pissing contest...it's simply childish. :down:
--------------------------------------------------------
this post is absolutely correct!! its not your highschool alma mata.... its just an employer...a JOB!! wish for and root for the best chances of a continuing pay check. be like management for once.....think of yourself. you are whats important, and your family. go for the best longterm chance of employment. if that is a merged airline so be it...happy thanksgiving!!
 
Having worked for 3 airlines...for over 23 years, the last 17 at US Airways...I can say this. Not every employee is good or bad. Not every employer is better or worse.
I try to do my personal best. ALL Airlines are the same. Just different times, different problems,ups and downs... different CEO's. Every airline has it's hey day...and it's down times. Some come back, some don't.
Delta is NO better than anyone else, nor is US Airways the worse. So please...no pissing contest...it's simply childish. :down:
Agreed! But it is hilarious watching people get soooooo upset with the whole "mine is better than yours..." saga....

I have a question: Why is everyone carrying on about the massive layoffs that will follow this merger? First off, DP said there would be no layoffs, similar to the HP/US merger (I know I know mgmt rhetoric.. :shock: .). Also, in the webcast, didnt DP say that most of the capacity downsizing would come from the regionals (ie 50 seaters???)

Just curious....
 
You are 100% wrong Nor'Easta.

AFA goes DOH as does the IAM and CWA.

All Agents, FAs, Mechanic and Related and Ramp were dovetailed, no one was placed at the bottom.

In evey single merger that US was involved with everyone except pilots got dovetailed, no one was stapled.

Stop spreading misinformation.

Just wait and see 700UW. I can tell you no contract, gets you screwed! DL Pilots are the only smart work group at DL. The others have been kissing a$$ to get what they need. All of those lips kissing DL's a$$, makes you wonder why DL is not smelling like a rose!! ;)
 
The Delta employees have a history of being treated well by management (except for the chunk of years that Allen and Mullin were in charge) We honestly have not needed any representation.

If you'd like to engage and a level headed conversation I'd be interested to hear what concessions you believe the Delta employees gave up that would have been saved by a contract? Also can you explain to me what benefits you got to keep because you did have a contract without having to bargain away another beneifit to keep it?

I really am just curious.
 
In evey single merger that US was involved with everyone except pilots got dovetailed, no one was stapled.

Stop spreading misinformation.
But conditions have changed.
AW was the purchaser. The US that was, now exists in name only.
What is AW’s history?
DP’s?
 
The Delta employees have a history of being treated well by management (except for the chunk of years that Allen and Mullin were in charge) We honestly have not needed any representation.


Remember Delta is not making the offer to take US Airways over. It's US Airways making the offer to take Delta over. It will be US management running the new airline, not DL. The only thing that will stay the same is the Delta name.

I think you should ask the AFA what they intend to do for the DL flight attendants. You guys voted no for representation. The AFA spent millions to try and organize the DL flight attendants. Do you think after that they will give you DOH? Do you think the flight attendants who are on furlough, out of seniority order will get called back?

Remember DL management can't get you DOH if US takes your airline over. US will take care of their own first and then look at the DL employees. It's sad, but it's true.

The last thing...

Remember Delta mangement will not be running the "New Delta." It will be Doug Parker and current US Airways management.

I wish you the best if this does take place.