Management & future prospects

[FutureCEO]

The following comes from the press release regarding the PIT reduction.

"Unfortunately our ability to operate profitably from Pittsburgh has been sharply eroded".

To make a comment like this public is somewhat crazy because in my view management just admitted that they couldn't have done anything to mitigate the problem, it just happened. If the past and present is a predictor of the future, then the future doesn't seem headed for a positive outcome.

Certainly the market dynamics of the airline industry and specifically PIT have changed dramatically over the last 10 years, but it doesn't bode well when one the original hubs that built what is the US Airways of today is dismantled. There is a serious lack of competent strategic vision currently and if US Airways is left to fly "rudderless" surely the erosion will continue.

Thoughts?

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

US Air is one of at least four major components that have gone away. Each one in the past has suffered to varying degrees the fate of PIT. Times have changed. This is US Airways in name only. It's like apples to oranges, comparing the behemoth in PIT of the 90's to where we are at today. You're talking about an airline that disappeared about four years ago. It finally sunk in today. It probably would be better for all if we could rename the airline so we can forget the old and get on with it. Maybe that would stop all the divisiveness. Remember when it was "Agony"airlines then changed to US Air. When we went international we got rid of the regional name and went to US Airways to reflect our new sophistication in destinations. In the past everybody who went bankrupt or wanted to change their image got a new paint job. Maybe we should get a new name instead.

 

[UWCactus]

US Air is one of at least four major components that have gone away. Each one in the past has suffered to varying degrees the fate of PIT. Times have changed. This is US Airways in name only. It's like apples to oranges, comparing the behemoth in PIT of the 90's to where we are at today. You're talking about an airline that disappeared about four years ago. It finally sunk in today. It probably would be better for all if we could rename the airline so we can forget the old and get on with it. Maybe that would stop all the divisiveness.

I would have to agree with the above post. It appears that with the closure of the PIT crew domicile that perhaps many can now understand that the industry has changed. US Airways is no longer what it was and is really a new completely new company in a new era that is supposed to survive the low profit margins of this business. Just take a look at so many things have affected this business.....internet shopping for the lowest price, competition from low fare carriers, fuel prices above 80.00 a barrell, these decisions are extremely difficult and can adversely affect a great number of people for the security of over 30,000.

 

[JAMAKE1]

...but it doesn't bode well when one the original hubs that built what is the US Airways of today is dismantled. There is a serious lack of competent strategic vision currently and if US Airways is left to fly "rudderless" surely the erosion will continue.

Thoughts?

PIT DID help to build USAirways...in the 80's and early 90's. But then operations were built up in PHL. And then PHL became a crew base, and ultimately, an international hub, with lots of O&D traffic. And the economy tanked in PIT. As I've said in other postings, USAirways never properly right-sized their operation after their acquisitions in the late 1980's. What's happening in PIT is really no different than when UA pulled down CLE a number of years ago, in favor of building its hub in ORD; or DL pulling down CVG and DFW recently; or AA pulling down BNA, RDU, and most recently, SJC; or UA's recent pull-down in MIA. ALL of the network carriers have had to re-allocate their (limited) resources to their areas of market strength: Areas of their operation where revenue, and ultimately, profits can be maximized. Just because USAirways has had a long storied history with the city of PIT, doesn't mean that as a company, they should continue to maintain an operation that produces significant operating losses. Second-tier hubs (read little O&D traffic, lots of connecting traffic) are no longer sustainable. Unfortunately, PIT falls into that category. Trust me when I say this: I have no reason to drink Tempe's Koolaid. This is a business decision based on current market conditions and the operating environment in which the company finds itself in. I don't believe that the decision to close PIT as a crew base is as much a reflection of bad management. I don't think that two large hubs within relatively close geographical proximity to each other is the best use of a company's (limited) resources, especially when one of those hubs is sustaining continued losses. That doesn't mean that the folks based in PIT shouldn't feel angry, hurt, disappointed, and sad that their way of life at USAirways as they once knew it, will be changing. On an emotional level, it is a painful reality to have to come to grips with...

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

Did you know that the only real reason the old US Airways stepped away from PIT was that Big Mouth Dr Bronner opened his fat mouth during negotiations with the airport that killed the deal to "Save" PIT?

What did the good Dr. let slip?

 

[PHLfa88]

Oh Yeah a totally new company indeed. One that can't even get out of the bottom third of the DOT Rankings in ANY category.

Boyo Boyo, gotta love the "NEW" I guess?

Did you know that the only real reason the old US Airways stepped away from PIT was that Big Mouth Dr Bronner opened his fat mouth during negotiations with the airport that killed the deal to "Save" PIT?

ft you & the other morons in Tempe can't operate PIT profitably, feel free to stop blaming everyone else for your incompetence! Why not step up to the plate and take ownership of your ineptness. Then maybe you could fix it?

You know sorta like a 12 atep program for Arrogant Airline executuves???? Hey ask Dougweiser about 12 step programs, he might know something about them?[/quot

Bonner Was A Bone Head I'll Have To Agree.. How Ever..When You Get The County Mgr Saying A Few Years Ago "I'd Rather DRIVE To Cleveland For A Cheaper Flight Than To Fly US" That Had Something To Do With The Discord Of US and The County!! "Don't Bite The Hand That Feed's You"!

 

[Hot Nuts]

You give management the blame for not mitigating the problem when it’s the front line employees that need to take a good hard look at what is happening in PIT and ask yourselves some hard questions.

1. Did I do everything I could to take care of the customer?
2. In my daily job function, did I hustle and show the customer I have some concern for timeliness?
3. As an employee of this company, did I do everything I could to keep the customer coming back?
4. Did I wear my uniform with pride and professionalism?
5. Did I work to protect the company assets and reduce waste?
6. As a representative of the company, did I seem approachable and professional at all times?

Maybe the answer is asking the folks that work at the station to take pay cuts to offset the lack of customer loyalty…then if the station does not perform, they could keep it going by reducing the costs. We have to admit that US Airways has an inferior product. However, it is not what we serve; it is how the folks who do the jobs are providing the service that misses the mark.

People do not want to pay for inferior services, and neither would you, right? Dirty aircraft, pilot sickouts, lazy flight attendants, nasty agents…we drove the customers away and this is what happens. Unless the employees get their act together I think PIT is just the first of many station closures…LGA and BOS may be next.

 

[Harry Callahan]

4. Did I wear my uniform with pride

That has long been taken away & it's getting worse.

 

[leprechaun]

Maybe the answer is asking the folks that work at the station to take pay cuts to offset the lack of customer loyalty…then if the station does not perform, they could keep it going by reducing the costs. We have to admit that US Airways has an inferior product. However, it is not what we serve; it is how the folks who do the jobs are providing the service that misses the mark.

People do not want to pay for inferior services, and neither would you, right? Dirty aircraft, pilot sickouts, lazy flight attendants, nasty agents…we drove the customers away and this is what happens. Unless the employees get their act together I think PIT is just the first of many station closures…LGA and BOS may be next.

Are you trying to stir the pot, or are you a complete moron?

 

[GoldenRam94]

Are you trying to stir the pot, or are you a complete moron?

I think the point is, you have a choice. Come to work and do the job you signed up for, or stay home and find another job.

 

[EastUS]

You give management the blame for not mitigating the problem

I think that we can stop right there, as fixing blame where it's appropriate isn't anything properly subjected to further quibbling. In any of my experiences with command in the military, business obligations, or simple commercial flying, I've never found it appropriate, or even possible to let myself off the hook for operational failures, nor would such a luxury have been improperly afforded me by any superiors. The morale of "the troops" , and operational success or failure, is the responsibility of the "leadership"....period, end of statement.

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

Not to let management off the hook, it is difficult at times to carry others weight.

This is true of any industry.

Managements foibles are well known but perhaps a sense of self esteem affects the way some do their job.

As our esteemed ex-CEO Stephen Wolfe once said "if you're going to come to work you might as well do the best job you can do " or some such thing.

Personal pride always plays a part in how you do your job.

 

[The Man]

I'd be happy too at 30 million a year.

Crushed Nuts is an idiot. Ask a carpenter to build a house without nails. Ask a mechanic to fix your car without tools. The majority of our employees come to work everyday and have to work without the proper tools. Who is responsible for providing those tools. We come to work and we deliver a product that stinks. Maybe, Bag "o" Nuts, you'd get tired of apologizing everyday to people who just got screwed over by your company. Maybe you'd get tired of working short handed constantly. We are alone, we receive no help, no support, and no leadership. I, like many others at US Airways, come to work, and do the best I can, for myself, not for Doug and his band of fools.

 

[Dog Wonder]

You give management the blame for not mitigating the problem when it’s the front line employees that need to take a good hard look at what is happening in PIT and ask yourselves some hard questions.

1. Did I do everything I could to take care of the customer?
2. In my daily job function, did I hustle and show the customer I have some concern for timeliness?
3. As an employee of this company, did I do everything I could to keep the customer coming back?
4. Did I wear my uniform with pride and professionalism?
5. Did I work to protect the company assets and reduce waste?
6. As a representative of the company, did I seem approachable and professional at all times?

In the case of PIT front line employees these aren't hard questions. The answer is Yes.

Now crawl back into your scrotum.

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

Was it enough?