Mother Nature's European CHAOS

[FWAAA]

With nearly every AA flight to the UK and many other European flights canceled today due to the Iceland volcano eruption and many European airports shutting down, how long until AA furloughs thousands and points to the Force Majeure clauses?

Some news outlets are reporting that this is the biggest airspace shutdown since September 11, 2001 and many news stories are suggesting that the eruption could last for days, weeks or months. Apparently, the last time this volcano erupted, it lasted for more than a year.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8621407.stm

Let's hope this eruption is instead measured in hours.

 

[Mach85ER]

If it pumps like that for a year ,next winter they will be able to hold the world X-country skiing championships on Alligator Alley west of Miami.

Mojitos while ice fishing on Biscayne Bay could be fun too.

 

[Bob Owens]

Well if they lay off mechanics they probably wont get them back, even with 10% unemployment we see more topped out mechanics quitting than ever before.

If the thing keeps erupting they will probably just fly a different route, maybe up and over like they do to Shanghai.

Looks like we will be getting a lot of window changes this Spring.

 

[Tex-Mech]

NEWS FLASH

The Transport Workers Union has finally revealed its super secret strike plan. Former TWU VP's Dennis Burchette and Gary Yingst were recently spotted doing a volcano dance in Iceland which led to massive eruption. As a result of their actions, not only has the TWU kept all Europe bound flights on the ground, but in fact has grounded all flights in Europe. This unprecendented show of strength by a union has American Airlines management shaking in their boots, and the latest word has it that in exchange for stopping the eruption, the airline is willing to up its current offer by 10 cents an hour. The union has leaped at this opportunity, and declared victory for the working man. Of course the union was required to add a "no volcano' clause to its contract.

 

[AA767JET]

LOL !!!

 

[TWU informer]

AA Management will probably submit a complaint to the NMB next week claiming this is an illegal job action by the Unions and therefore not entitled to release from mediation.

And will use postings from the internet to back their claims.

 

[Tex-Mech]

AA Management will probably submit a complaint to the NMB next week claiming this is an illegal job action by the Unions and therefore not entitled to release from mediation.

And will use postings from the internet to back their claims.

And based on the NMB rulings over the years, they could very well side with the company on the volcano eruption being caused by the TWU.

 

[xUT]

All funniness aside.
This could bring deep dodo to world economy.
B) xUT

 

[Hopeful]

So let's see... the bonuses are uneffected, and it's related to the TWU.

You said it,,,,No matter what the state of the airline industry, or economy as a whole, the executives never miss a beat, do they?

Their continued bonus pay is defended because its "part" of their compensation package,,,,that's a dead horse that gets brought up just as much on this board. As much as you get tired of hearing us bash your beloved greedmongers at the top, us UNIONISTAS are just as tired of hearing the defense of them.


In bad times, the company seeks to gut the workers and justify their own compensation as "market" rates.


When the bonuses stop for the privileged ones at the top, and the pain is shared, then and only then MIGHT the morale problem come out of its nose dive.


Until then, I will continue to meet all AAers at the bottom of the industry rankings.


I hope everyone is happy for ARPEY and CO.........

 

[FWAAA]

Seriously, there is going to be a huge impact economically for a lot of these airlines. The shutdown will be on the order of magnitude to what US carriers suffered as losses after 9/11.

Lots of estimates of the economic harm to airlines and to the economies as a whole - I'm guessing that the damages will be measured in the billions of dollars. The $5 billion federal bailout in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 was shared among all US-based airlines since all were grounded equally.

What to do this time if AA, UA, DL, CO and US lose hundreds of millions or billions of dollars? The domestic-only LCCs haven't been affected. If it goes on long enough, the legacies will be banging the "we need some federal money to help us survive something that wasn't our fault" drum, and the argument is somewhat compelling. Would a cash infusion to the big 5 legacies fly?

Same thing in Europe, where BA, AF, KLM, LH and others are basically comletely grounded. If those governments give into temptation and hand billions of pounds and euros to their airlines, US-based carriers will scream if they don't get some equal treatment from the US government. And if a bailout occurs, imagine the complaints from WN, B6, FL and the other LCCs that have no European exposure.

In other news, KLM, AF and LH have flown test flights and are complaining that the flying ban should be lifted - that the ban is overly cautious:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8628323.stm

 

[Skymess]

In other news, KLM, AF and LH have flown test flights and are complaining that the flying ban should be lifted - that the ban is overly cautious:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8628323.stm

If they put the CEOs and the Boards Of Directors on the test flights I'll believe it's safe.

 

[JAFA]

If they put the CEOs and the Boards Of Directors on the test flights I'll believe it's safe.

Willie Walsh flew personally on the BA test flight.

 

[FrequentFlierCA]

And apparently the KLM CEO was on their test flight.

 

[Hopeful]

What to do this time if AA, UA, DL, CO and US lose hundreds of millions or billions of dollars? The domestic-only LCCs haven't been affected. If it goes on long enough, the legacies will be banging the "we need some federal money to help us survive something that wasn't our fault" drum, and the argument is somewhat compelling. Would a cash infusion to the big 5 legacies fly?



http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8628323.stm

GEE, maybe AA should stop flying internationally and just downgrade to a domestic only airline.
Seemed like AA had been reducing domestic flying and increased international travel giving more of the share to jetBlue and Southwest and every other LCC.

 

[FWAAA]

Facing conservative estimates of $1 billion in damages so far, airlines are already demanding compensation from the EU for the shutdown:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Airline-losses-from-ash-apf-1223830951.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=4&asset=&ccode=