Is It True?

[mweiss]

I doesn't make sense that USAirways doesn't ALREADY have a CASM lower than Southwest and AirTran.

[post="237885"][/post]​

Sure it does. You have to keep in mind that wages are far from the only thing affecting CASM.

 

[Phoenix]

Sure it does. You have to keep in mind that wages are far from the only thing affecting CASM.

[post="237900"][/post]​

Perhaps the irony was too subtle.

The people that "budget and spend" have been saying for several years now that it is all about labor costs and have received everything they have asked for from labor (and even more because of the judge) and great quantities from creitors by going bankrupt twice. Yet the people who "budget and spend", that are in charge of USAir, still couldn't find a steel nickle in a wishing well if you threw them into it with a magnet strapped to both hands and feet, and one on their butt too.

Cheers

 

[marco90821]

We will lose a talented and upstanding individual. He made great strides in re-organizing this airline, putting up with the lowly union types to transform a failing business into what will be one of the most profitable of airlines. Sometimes you have to take these union types by the big ones.

 

[whlinder]

I will say it again, "following emergence and full Transformation Plan implementation, US Airways will have a CASM lower than Southwest and AirTran, but higher than jetBlue Airways."

[post="237815"][/post]​

🙄

Unless that transformation plan is to fly an A330 around for 20 hours a day, it won't happen. But it sure would be nice if you would tell us why you think US will get its CASM that low...

 

[whlinder]

Perhaps if you did some homework you'd know that the individual that came up with the Carribean/Latin America strategy came from AA. So one might think that the person might have at least a passing knowledge of the inner workings of US's key competitor?

[post="237917"][/post]​

They aren't going to come out and say "We think our plan sucks but we have no other option."

 

[funguy2]

Baldanza was brought in by Wolf and Gangwal.

He was the public face of the DM program changes that were announced in August, 2002 and later rescinded. Ben became the target of anger from customers who began the "Cockroaches".

My mistake. I thought he was part of the group brought in w/ Seigel in 2002. I guess he's been around since 1999, with prior TACA experience.

 

[firstamendment]

They aren't going to come out and say "We think our plan sucks but we have no other option."

[post="237974"][/post]​

Good gosh, give it a break. The flights haven't been fully implemented and you guys are ripping the plan apart. The only criticism I would have is that if the Caribbean/ Central America is so important, do it right. Bring the Star Alliance airlines into there. Beef up flights to UAL's hubs or their own flights. Hit the business cities that DO business in that area. Again we are stuck on hubs and a few cities. Yes, FLL isn't yet ready for the growth but they will get there.
Eventually, we should serve FLL-
ORD, MDW, MSP, YYZ, LAX, SFO, PHX, LAS, SEA, DFW, HOU, DTW, Cinci, DEN, and yes...LGW, FRA, and CVG. I know, no airplanes. We'll find them or up delivery dates if possible.

As far as American, why should all the fine folks be limited to flying out of MIA? If you live in the Palm Beaches down to FLL, it is a long drive to MIA. South Florida is a well populated area with a lot of Latin American influence. Why should the citizens of that area be subjected to AA's monopoly? You guys b!tch when SWA enters a market with their low cost structure, but excuse me, I should say ours is now lower than American's, so why the hell not? AA is NOT the savior of South Florida and many down there hate AA and the lack of competition as much as the 'burghers do of US. FLL is an easy airport to travel in and out of. Ask ANY resident of Broward County or Palm Beach County which airport they would prefer to fly out of. IT WON'T BE MIAMI!!

This constant negative dribble gets old. Maybe it will..maybe it won't work, but the same ones bitching about our route system are...guess what..the same ones bitching about changing it. You people beat all.

 

[ClueByFour]

Perhaps if you did some homework you'd know that the individual that came up with the Carribean/Latin America strategy came from AA. So one might think that the person might have at least a passing knowledge of the inner workings of US's key competitor?

Baldanza did a tour at AA, too. Clearly, he missed the day they did revenue management and the day they did customer loyalty training, so your point is what?

I don't care what knowledge this individual has of AA. The fact remains that AA is far more financially prepared to weather a fare war to the island and Latin America destinations than US is, has shown in the past that they will defend the MIA hub against all comers, can toss bigger and better equipment at it, and is generally known for their tenacity in this regard. When I still lived in PIT, US threw a fare sale from BOS and RDU (IIRC) to the west coast (this went on for a few days). AA in turn, lowered transcon fares to SEA, SFO, LAX, SNA (at the time), SAN, and LAS to $198 r/t from PIT/CLT/PHL, with the difference being that AA went on like that for six months. Let's also not forget that the Latin America/Island thing is basically a case of "cut and run" from the LCCs. That won't work for very long (as you will note that Airtran and ATA already fly to the islands, and you can be sure more are on the way).

History versus the unbridaled optimism of a couple of FFOCUS people who happened to meet the guy who cooked it up--which to believe?

Not everyone who works at US is a bumbling idiot and the reason we know this can be proven by 28,000 plus people who continue to draw a paycheck from a company that was left for dead 3 years ago.

[post="237917"][/post]​

The ones who are at-will or who have the skills to leave should do it, already. The best of middle level brilliance cannot overcome the general (and particularly the operational) mis-management from the executive suite.

 

[EyeInTheSky]

Why does US Airways end up with the AA management flunkies? Chiames and BBB...wtf.

 

[firstamendment]

The fact remains that AA is far more financially prepared to weather a fare war to the island and Latin America destinations than US

[post="238021"][/post]​

How much $$ has American made in 5 years? How much have they loss? You may want to hop over to the AA boards to see that American is NOT out of the woods and may STILL have to chapter 11 themselves. So what money do they have. They have also downsized and need their big airplanes where they are suited. SWA, JB, and Airtrans have proven aircraft size means NOTHING.

In the past I would agree with you but this is a different day and AA is a vulnerable as the next airline.

 

[mweiss]

Perhaps the irony was too subtle.

[post="237905"][/post]​

It was. My apologies.

 

[mweiss]

...AA is a vulnerable as the next airline.

[post="238024"][/post]​

Vulnerable? Yes. As vulnerable as the next airline? Not if the next airline is US Airways.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Vulnerable? Yes. As vulnerable as the next airline? Not if the next airline is US Airways.

[post="238028"][/post]​

Exactly, Michael....

3rd 04 AMR had an operational loss of $27 million on revenues of $4,761 million.
In just November U had an operational loss of $27 million on revenues of $556 million.

3q 04 AMR had a net loss of 4.5 cents per system ASM.
In Nov U had a net loss of 11 cents per system ASM.

9/30/04 AMR had unrestricted cash of $3,100 million.
11/30/04 U had unrestricted cash of $823 million (with a little over $100 million available over the ATSB limits.

Jim

 

[BoeingBoy]

Exactly, Michael....

3rd 04 AMR had an operational loss of $27 million on revenues of $4,761 million.
In just November U had an operational loss of $27 million on revenues of $556 million.

3q 04 AMR had a net loss of 4.5 cents per system ASM.
In Nov U had a net loss of 11 cents per system ASM.

9/30/04 AMR had unrestricted cash of $3,100 million.
11/30/04 U had unrestricted cash of $823 million (with a little over $100 million available over the ATSB limits.

Jim

[post="238039"][/post]​

Oops, I got a decimal wrong in part of the above.....

3q04 AMR had a net loss of 0.45 cents per system ASM.
In Nov U had a net loss of 1.1 cents per system ASM.

Sorry for the mistake.

Jim

 

[SpinDoc]

Why does US Airways end up with the AA management flunkies? Chiames and BBB...wtf.

[post="238023"][/post]​

Chris Chiames is in a much higher league
than BBB. He is involved at every level in
trying to make this airline survive. BBB
just wants to maximize revenue without
consulting with those who pay the highest
fares the majority of the time. Dont' get
Chris and BBB confused or lumped together.

Also, an internal source has advised me
that BBB is definitely leaving. No official
company word yet though. FFocus, may
you all celebrate when the news release
comes out.