AA + CO

[Mach85ER]

It's hardly even bending.... ....... Take out the seats, and it's compliant with the letter of the agreement.

It falls under the APA Contract. You can't pull out seats and place it with AE. If it's been certified in the USA over 70 seats, it's done.

If APA wanted to play hardball over a large turboprop, they could. But I just don't see the AA guys being too willing to step back in time and having to remember how to feather a prop...

Not really. Give "greenbook" rates and pay and workrules, most would be very happy flying it or anything else.

 

[eolesen]

It falls under the APA Contract. You can't pull out seats and place it with AE. If it's been certified in the USA over 70 seats, it's done.

Debatable.

Current scope says if an aircraft type is recertified with a maximum
passenger capacity of greater than 50 passenger seats, the Air Carrier
operating said aircraft shall remain a Commuter Air Carrier so long as it
operates said aircraft with no more than 50 passenger seats.

If you modify the Q400 to meet the seating of the ATR, the argument might go either way with an arbitrator since it is more of a one-to-one comparison in terms of speed, range, etc. That's not the case when you're looking at RJ's.

But it's all a moot point. AA won't be ordering anything with oil where it has been, today's retreats not withstanding.