2014 Fleet Service Discussion

[roabilly]

When it comes to many things I've come to the conclusion that you truly are clueless. Especially in the area of business dynamics.

I guess a degree in Theology is insufficient for business comprehension in this particular application.
 
Does Theology teach that rendering partial truths, and obscuring facts with clever journalism, intertwined with a personal political agenda, to be acceptable within the discipline? Does it allow for deceptive behavior and intellectual dishonesty when it’s for the “right cause”?

 

[robbedagain]

its going to be very interesting to see what kind of proposal the donkeys have in store for both IAM groups come April 30 and May 1st    but judging by their past I would personelly not expect anything short of what our NC is asking  but who knows

 

[Tim Nelson]

Looks like LAX has greater potential, or at least Kirby is looking into it.
 
http://www.insidesocal.com/aviation/2014/04/11/american-is-evaluating-lax-as-possible-asian-hub-the-airlines-president-said/

 

[700UW]

 
We are hand-billing US Airways passengers this week and ask that the members of Sky Harbor lodge help us at the terminal, 8am to 5pm each day through Friday. Please contact your Shop Steward, Committeeman, General Chairman or Local Lodge leadership to sign up. Thank You!

 

[Jester]

Tim,
 
As the article says that there must be good mix of connecting and O&D passengers for flights to work  PHX has little Asian O&D, thus LAX becomes the default west coast option for AA, as SFO and SEA have well-established OAL hub operations.  At one time I would have suggested LAS, but it is a low-yielding market and with the advent of casino operations in Hong Kong and Macau, much of the Asian market to LAS has decreased significantly.
 
Asian demand for LAX is strong, but plenty of competition and connection possibilities will become more available with the expansion of TBIT which is not exclusive to International flights (domestic connectivity options).  Personally, I view Kirby's comments as just one more reason as to why PHX will eventually see downsizing in a large degree.  More International flights means more connecting flights which weakens the need for PHX.
 
As a side note, regardless of LAX expansion plans, I do believe PHX will see a massive reduction in flights in the few years ahead as DFW and ORD can handle much of the east-west connection issues without having to fly to the far southwest, thus avoids doubling back north to the final destination.  Include LAX to handle the west coast flights requiring a connection, and PHX days as a low-yielding hub are numbered.

 

[Tim Nelson]

Tim,
 
As the article says that there must be good mix of connecting and O&D passengers for flights to work  PHX has little Asian O&D, thus LAX becomes the default option for AA, as SFO and SEA have well-established hub operations.  At one time I would have suggested LAS, but it is a low-yielding market and with the advent of casino operations in Hong Kong and Macau, much of the Asian market to LAS has decreased significantly.
 
Asian demand for LAX is strong, but plenty of competition and connection possibilities will become more available with the expansion of TBIT which is not exclusive to International flights (domestic connectivity options).  Personally, I view Kirby's comments as just one more reason as to why PHX will eventually see downsizing in a large degree.  More International flights means more connecting flights which weakens the need for PHX.
 
As a side note, regardless of LAX expansion plans, I do believe PHX will see a massive reduction in flights in the few years ahead as DFW and ORD can handle much of the east-west connection issues without having to fly the far southwest without doubling back north to the final destination.  Include LAX to handle the west coast flights requiring a connection, and PHX days as a low-yielding hub are numbered.

Makes sense. Especially, as the company has to compete with Delta [Sea] and United [SFO].  If more domestic flights to LAX can help an intl base then it stands a chance.  Not sure of the gate situation and the feasibility of more domestic flights but I wouldn't be surprised if the company found a sorta dance partner as Delta once did at Sea with Alaska.  I have no idea who the players are out in LAX but I assume American is the biggest airline with maybe United second. And I wonder if it makes sense to buy Hawaiian if that company has decent routes and infrastructure at LAX.  As an aside, would HNL work as an Asian connector?

 

[Jester]

Tim,
 
Those markets in which AA has interest in exploiting are not types who are willing to make connections into LAX.  HKG, TPE, ICN, etc. passengers aren't willing to make a stop in HNL, especially as very good Asian airlines are willing to make the same flight non-stop.  Hawaii is a low-yielding market, and connections from Asia into Hawaii to make LAX will not improve the yield.
 
AA must have high-yields to keep its business model and appeal to well-heeled travelers, which is another reason as to why PHX will experience an eventual decline of flights.

 

[700UW]

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2014/04/alaska-airlines-clerks-win-merger-protection-in.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bizj_seattle+%28Seattle+-+Puget+Sound+Business+Journal%29
 
United is #1 by 300,000 passengers over American and then Delta is third.
 
US and AA combined is #1 by around 2,000,000 passengers for 2013, ahead of UA.
 
http://www.lawa.org/uploadedfiles/LAX/statistics/aircarrier-2013.pdf

 

[Tim Nelson]

Tim,
 
Those markets in which AA has interest in exploiting are not types who are willing to make connections into LAX.  HKG, TPE, ICN, etc. passengers aren't willing to make a stop in HNL, especially as very good Asian airlines are willing to make the same flight non-stop.  Hawaii is a low-yielding market, and connections from Asia into Hawaii to make LAX will not improve the yield.
 
AA must have high-yields to keep its business model and appeal to well-heeled travelers, which is another reason as to why PHX will experience an eventual decline of flights.

I think United has the guam market as a sorta mini place to connect to the pacific.  From my arm chair I would think that HNL would be a nice connector to the south pacific. Then again, Im not even much familiar with the sAA global network.  Does sAA even go to Sydney? Auckland? Phillippines? Singapore? Dubai [albeit not south pacific]?  
 
Regarding LAX, the article I posted sorta admits the ongoing handicaps out of LAX when compared to SFO and SEA.  About 400 additional miles, and the Asian companies are well entrenched.
 
As far as the atlantic, I heard that JFK is underachieving bigtime since it has no connecting as well.

 

[ograc]

 
We are hand-billing US Airways passengers this week and ask that the members of Sky Harbor lodge help us at the terminal, 8am to 5pm each day through Friday. Please contact your Shop Steward, Committeeman, General Chairman or Local Lodge leadership to sign up. Thank You!

I like the flyer! It pretty much sums it up! While battle lines are being drawn for an impending strike; other posters are focused on and debating future American marketing strategies. What does that have to do with the impending showdown? These decisions are way above our pay grade as Fleet Service. Additionally, represented fleet service members have no input on these decisions. I suggest we stay focused on the influence we have, as a collective group, regarding our future scope, wages, and working conditions. Let the company worry about future marketing strategies. We need a contract! 
Lock and Load!

 

[700UW]

AA doesnt fly to Australia, they use their One World and codeshare partner Qantas.
 
They dont fly to NZ, I dont think they fly to anyone of the destinations you posted.

 

[P. REZ]

I like the flyer! It pretty much sums it up! While battle lines are being drawn for an impending strike; other posters are focused on and debating future American marketing strategies. What does that have to do with the impending showdown? These decisions are way above our pay grade as Fleet Service. Additionally, represented fleet service members have no input on these decisions. I suggest we stay focused on the influence we have, as a collective group, regarding our future scope, wages, and working conditions. Let the company worry about future marketing strategies. We need a contract! 
Lock and Load!

Ograc,
 
I agree and challenge other cities to get the necessary permits and join PHX in this powerful message to the flying public and the Company.
 
P. Rez

 

[Tim Nelson]

Fleet Service Update
 
1. When the IAM is talking about a release, the NMB will likely not consider releasing both MX and Fleet service at the same time.  Thus, even though a release is not likely, if it were granted, the question becomes which group gets released.
 
2. Over the past 12 months, we have seen a normal pattern by the NMB which calls a meeting about every other month, then ices both parties and repeats the cycle. Some of you have PM'd me and have mistakenly thought that the NMB already ruled that there was an impasse.  The reality is that the IAM has put out news reports about every 3 months talking about an impasse but no impasse was ever ruled upon.  Thus, we are simply not at that part of the process.  Hopefully, the NMB rules that there is an impasse and then furthers the process and grants a release.
 
3.  Chances of a release.   Nobody knows but the likelihood winds down to null around June 1.   The best we can do is follow NMB patterns which says that a release is unlikely. Our hope should be that some political pressure in the Obama administration will intervene and break the pattern.
 
4. Single carrier.   Management signed a pact with the TWU last year that promised 4.3% pay increase in return for other items, which included filing single carrier status by June 9, 2014.  There is a resolution process in that contract that puts this, at the latest, July 9.  The significance of this is that management expects and knows that a single carrier will be filed, at the latest, in less than 3 months.  In application, you should also know that the NMB has never, ever, granted or considered a release by any union, in the entire history of the RLA, when a single carrier application was triggered.  That means that if the NMB doesn't release your group after considering the May 1 meetings, then it isn't going to.
 
5.  Stand alone talks.  You should know that stand alone talks can continue even if the NMB rules that there is now only one carrier. However, the Association Q & A clearly says that the IAM will negotiate stand alone until [IAM's words, not mine] the NMB rules on a single carrier.  I am not privy to the Association arrangement but undoubtedly, the TWU agreed to support stand alone until at least single carrier is ruled upon [presumably in September].  It is my hope, and should be your's, that the IAM and TWU extend the agreement past the single carrier ruling as both parties can certainly amend the agreement. 
 
regards,

 

[700UW]

This is not a Fleet Service Update, it is not from the IAM, its another one of your diatribes and you're opinions.

 

[Harry Callahan]

If I thought I could get to PHX & back, I'd love to come out there & help.
 
Harry
 
No contract No sacrifice.