I think you guys are blowing some of this out of proportion, and it might be why DL is going it alone on the issue without Parker or Smisek getting drawn into it.
When you boil down the cost of financing thru ExIm vs. other sources as a component of ownership expense, it's a relatively small number. It's certainly not the underlying reason for EK, QR, and EY's lower operating costs. I also doubt they're really choosing Boeing or Airbus based on the interest rate.
I'm far more concerned with the cost of opening up pre-clearance in the Middle East and the competitive advantage that creates for EK than I am over ExIm.
because AA and UA don't care about it hardly is justification that DL shouldn't.
The simple fact is that DL is rewriting the way the legacy airlines have operated which has been full of ups and downs and massive debt, mostly for aircraft.
DL is not interested in paying more than it needs to for aircraft and it has been shown for several years now that DL not only has competitive or better aircraft costs, fuel costs, and maintenance costs.
What DL doesn't have is the massive amount of debt that AA and UA have.
The fact that DL is doing something that AA and UA aren't or don't want to deal with JUSTIFIES why DL has a higher market cap than either AA or UA.
DL also argued against delays at US gateways for immigration processing far more than AA or UA did, developed its own plans to deal with the issue, and has more automated passport readers online right now than AA or UA do, including in key competitive gateways like LAX and JFK where there is a marked difference in the immigration processing times between terminals that have automated passport readers/systems and those that do not.
The fact that DL is dealing with major structural issues with the industry shows that DL has moved beyond just holding the operation together and dealing with labor issues which is where AA and UA are.
And you havent been gone eight years, you took the money and ran, you have no idea of what is going on currently, you dont work the ramp nor are you a flight attendant.
Kevin has told you what is going on, plenty of support and its growing.
And the IAM is not the topic, its the ExIm bank and Boeing isnt the only company that benefits from the ExIm bank.
Of course you don't want to talk about the IAM and instead turn the conversation personal.
Who gives a frog's fat backside what I or you do in our private lives? The simple fact is that the IAM is not going to challenge the ExIm Bank because it benefits Boeing at the cost of the stability of US airlines.
You'll be shown to be on the wrong side of this issue just as you have been on so many others affecting DL employees.
what your relationship is with the IAM is up for you to answer but the evidence on this forum that you don't stand for what is of interest to the majority of DL employees is more than clear.
And if you look Boeing isnt the main benefactor.
If you look here are the statistics from the bank.
http://www.exim.gov/customcf/congressionalmap/us_map_text.cfm
CA, TX and AZ are the three states who benefit the most.
And yet who do you think pays the bills regardless of who benefits? It is STILL US airlines.
And Boeing is not about going to argue that they or any of their constituents benefit even when the facts are clearly on the table.
You can post all of Boeing's talking points that you want.
Congress is listening and they are listening to DL's arguments.
The fact that DL is able to take on a battle against Boeing, a far larger company, and win the minds of major leaders in the US says that DL does in fact have a valid position, regardless of who wins and who does or does not see things the same way DL does.
