AA may cut service to smaller cities

[jimntx]

No details (which cities) as yet. Cranky Flyer posted this heads up on his blog. I got the impression it's more of a threat than a formal announcement. Also this applies to all the major airlines, not just AA. Airlines told the Feds that if their payroll support is extended (due to expire at the end of September) then service to the smaller cities would be continued. Otherwise the service and a number of employees would be cut. Possible cutting criteria: Seems that being the only airline serving the city in question (and not covered by Essential Air Service laws) is a pointer to possible cutting target.

https://apnews.com/18398789b2597593b03e11e39ccf15c2

 

[swamt]

No details (which cities) as yet. Cranky Flyer posted this heads up on his blog. I got the impression it's more of a threat than a formal announcement. Also this applies to all the major airlines, not just AA. Airlines told the Feds that if their payroll support is extended (due to expire at the end of September) then service to the smaller cities would be continued. Otherwise the service and a number of employees would be cut. Possible cutting criteria: Seems that being the only airline serving the city in question (and not covered by Essential Air Service laws) is a pointer to possible cutting target.

https://apnews.com/18398789b2597593b03e11e39ccf15c2

Thanks for sharing jim.
This may change my mind after reading. Before I was thinking (purely my thoughts only) that AA may deny some further assistance since they are and will be still way over staffed since the merger with US Air. They are saying as of late they will be still 15-20% too heavy as far as employees and I think that is even with all the folks that took retirements and leaves. But if they are saying now that they would not hack these flights if they did receive a 2nd round of assistance, then they will accept the help again and put off the layoffs until March 2021.
Also note how the language has changed a bit stating that "Airlines and Airline Unions are pushing for an extension." They use to say, "Unions asking for extension", and the Airlines were in support. I still say the Airlines put or asked the Unions to request congress to extend so as not to get any added restrictions packed onto them.
Some interesting quotes and phrases in this article makes me NOW think that AA will accept an extension offer thru to March 2021.

 

[jimntx]

Hate to sound like a conservative, but after a certain point, using government aid to keep the engines gassed seems to me is just masking (no pun intended) the problem--namely that we (all airlines) are not attracting enough passengers to pay the bills. Easy for me to say--I'm retired. I'm not sure we can go all the way until March on borrowed time and money.

 

[V.O. Reason]

The cities are all likely express cities and yes AA will be smaller with or without government help.
It’s just a matter of when do they shrink.
October or March but it has to be done

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Hate to sound like a conservative

Why?

If you want to sound like a leftist Democrat go grab a brick, smash some glass, steal some goods, set a few fires, block some traffic, and scream racist at every white person you see, even if you are white. Leftist speak the language of oppression, comply or face the consequences. The left love to eat there own which believe me, is a great source of amusement for people like me.

So as a conservative, tell me.... what do you find offensive about conservatives that you don't even want to be associated with them by practicing your right to free speech?

but after a certain point, using government aid to keep the engines gassed seems to me is just masking (no pun intended) the problem--namely that we (all airlines) are not attracting enough passengers to pay the bills. Easy for me to say--I'm retired. I'm not sure we can go all the way until March on borrowed time and money.

Truth through logic and reasoning. How very conservative of you.

You better watch criticizing socialism or the left will be coming for you next. Right after they are done with Jimmy Kimmel.

 

[swamt]

Hate to sound like a conservative, but after a certain point, using government aid to keep the engines gassed seems to me is just masking (no pun intended) the problem--namely that we (all airlines) are not attracting enough passengers to pay the bills. Easy for me to say--I'm retired. I'm not sure we can go all the way until March on borrowed time and money.

Agree with the masking, or "band-aid" if ya will until March. However, I am in support of kicking that can down the road later. Even if there will be some layoffs, rifs, and furloughs after the fed. aid is over, Oct or Mar., at least some folks had a bit longer to KEEP preparing. The more time they have to get prepared the easier it will go for them in the long run. The airlines seem to be getting a bit louder on the extension subject as to cue congress to come to an agreement.
BTW; Your opinion is your opinion, and you can say whatever you like or how you feel. No need to apologise for that.

 

[jimntx]

The cities are all likely express cities and yes AA will be smaller with or without government help.
It’s just a matter of when do they shrink.
October or March but it has to be done

I don't know. AA management has "managed" to carry excess names on the payroll for quite some time. (Cut me some slack on the following statements. I am 75 you know) When the merger happened, between AA and US Air there were something like 125,000 flight attendants on the combined active seniority list. It was a foregone conclusion that unless a LOT of senior flight attendants retired (company was not offering any early out packages at the time) there were going to be massive furloughs up into the 20-year or more seniority group. When I retired 3 years later (with 15 years on the book) there were still 125,000 flight attendants on the active seniority list.

 

[V.O. Reason]

I don't know. AA management has "managed" to carry excess names on the payroll for quite some time. (Cut me some slack on the following statements. I am 75 you know) When the merger happened, between AA and US Air there were something like 125,000 flight attendants on the combined active seniority list. It was a foregone conclusion that unless a LOT of senior flight attendants retired (company was not offering any early out packages at the time) there were going to be massive furloughs up into the 20-year or more seniority group. When I retired 3 years later (with 15 years on the book) there were still 125,000 flight attendants on the active seniority list.

No question there are still areas of fat that have to be thinned so I expect more early outs and then just let go.
They just don’t have a choice

 

[eolesen]

Yup. AA's problem was Parker committed to no job losses as a result of the takeover/merger. They did a good job of finding ways to coerce legacy AA management employees to leave, but the front lines were still overstaffed by a good % compared to their peers...

 

[Kev3188]

AA announced the suspension of 15 cities today:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/20/cor...-small-cities-after-federal-aid-runs-out.html

 

[jimntx]

Wish they would just go ahead and announce which specific cities are involved. It's not like some magic airline genie is going to swoop down and uncover the pile of money that will maintain service to those cities.

 

[Kev3188]

"American is cutting service to these airports: Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Florence, South Carolina; Greenville, North Carolina; Huntington, West Virginia; Joplin, Missouri; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan; Lake Charles, Louisiana; New Haven, Connecticut; New Windsor, New York; Roswell, New Mexico; Sioux City, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania."

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

Why?

If you want to sound like a leftist Democrat go grab a brick, smash some glass, steal some goods, set a few fires, block some traffic, and scream racist at every white person you see, even if you are white. Leftist speak the language of oppression, comply or face the consequences. The left love to eat there own which believe me, is a great source of amusement for people like me.

So as a conservative, tell me.... what do you find offensive about conservatives that you don't even want to be associated with them by practicing your right to free speech?

Truth through logic and reasoning. How very conservative of you.

You better watch criticizing socialism or the left will be coming for you next. Right after they are done with Jimmy Kimmel.

La'.

Conservatives are forever trying to mix government and RELIGION together !
Thomas Jefferson said, " NOT KOOL " !

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

La'.

Conservatives are forever trying to mix government and RELIGION together !
Thomas Jefferson said, " NOT KOOL " !

Point is it is not a good business decision... not for American Airlines and not or the country to fund a company that is 80 percent overstaffed.

There is NOTHING anyone on here can say to me to justify that decision. AA should absolutely cut service to those cities until they can financially justify restoring service.

We need to start asking what we are willing to sacrifice to hold our country together instead of asking what can the government do for ME.

 

[jimntx]

"American is cutting service to these airports: Del Rio, Texas; Dubuque, Iowa; Florence, South Carolina; Greenville, North Carolina; Huntington, West Virginia; Joplin, Missouri; Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan; Lake Charles, Louisiana; New Haven, Connecticut; New Windsor, New York; Roswell, New Mexico; Sioux City, Iowa; Springfield, Illinois; Stillwater, Oklahoma; and Williamsport, Pennsylvania."

Thanks. I guess I'm losing my ability to find stuff on the Internet in my old age.