Specter, Casey blister US Airways

[BoeingBoy]

why did they close PIT?

IMHO, airplanes (or lack thereof) is the primary reason given that PHL was already a hub. As I've said before, an airline can't go from 400+ airplanes to 200+ airplanes without cutting somewhere and PIT was the odd man out.

Jim

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

IMHO, airplanes (or lack thereof) is the primary reason given that PHL was already a hub. As I've said before, an airline can't go from 400+ airplanes to 200+ airplanes without cutting somewhere and PIT was the odd man out.

Jim

Thanks.

 

[SpinDoc]

IMHO, airplanes (or lack thereof) is the primary reason given that PHL was already a hub. As I've said before, an airline can't go from 400+ airplanes to 200+ airplanes without cutting somewhere and PIT was the odd man out.

Jim

Jim:

Most importantly, the company did not want the inherent liabilities of having a very senior workforce (wages and benefits), and expensive real estate which were identified as cost targets during both bankruptcies.

 

[PITbull]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07305/830274-28.stm

This is THE Republican Senator who really gave Labor his ear. He supported USAirways during their 2 bankruptcies in exchange to save thousands of jobs in Pittsburgh and keep the HUB status. When USAirways cancelled the leases 20 minutes before emerging from BK #1, after Arlen was a huge advocate and supporter to get USAirways the ATSB loan bail out it sought along with the local representatives of PGH. When that first let-down happened, USAirways still said it would keep the HUB status and keep 50 gates, 10 which were leased for 10 more years. I personally wrote to Arlen Spector and the Governor Rendell forwarding them e-mails from our managment on their deceptive practices with labor. Arlen Specter has been a stanch supporter of Labor in PA.

In light of a second BK, pension dumping, cutting more service, USAirways has been a huge disappointment to not only its employees, but to the congressional representatives on the HILL. The DOT who did a 3 month investigation of USAirways holiday meltdown only publically proved that USAirways management could not be trusted and played their "blame game" once to many times. Doug's subsequent arrest of his DUI and past arrest record for previous DUI's does not foster confidence in even this new management. Other airlines are making money in PIT. Arlen's point is why can't USAirways get it together?

In the future, it will be very difficult for USAirways to get anything approved that takes congressional approval including ATSB.

 

[PITbull]

Jim:

Most importantly, the company did not want the inherent liabilities of having a very senior workforce (wages and benefits), and expensive real estate which were identified as cost targets during both bankruptcies.

I believe that targeting a senior workforce as a liability is called age discrimination according to the EEOC statutes.

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

In all honesty does not McCain take over for one of the PA senators?

The PA senators can then decide which one will be the bad cop and which one is good cop.

Probably some NC senators may have some say as well. The PA centric universe has shifted. Especially for western PA.

It is no longer the center of the universe. As many people have made the decision to move on to better jobs there has been

a shift in decision making and jobs to other parts of the country.

Sorry.

 

[PITbull]

In all honesty does not McCain take over for one of the PA senators?

The PA senators can then decide which one will be the bad cop and which one is good cop.

Probably some NC senators may have some say as well. The PA centric universe has shifted. Especially for western PA.

It is no longer the center of the universe. As many people have made the decision to move on to better jobs there has been

a shift in decision making and jobs to other parts of the country.

Sorry.

I believe that it was the Senate Members that challenged Doug on the HILL when he thought he may be successful in capturing DELTA in his hostile takeover. I don't believe it was PA senators who were quoted, but a few other senators that threatened to resurrect the dumped pension plans of the USAirways employees since USAirways who was parading with $13 billion 1 year after emergence from BK to acquire one of the largest carriers in the world. Their point is why is the PBGC carrying USAirways pension plans' obligations?

I don't think the Senate was embracing even prospects of USAirways taking over an airline like DELTA.

 

[mga707]

In all honesty does not McCain take over for one of the PA senators?

McCain...ha!

He's way too busy being a (cue serious music) 'National Political Figure' to due anything as mundane as actual Senate business!
Even before his waste-of-time presidential run he was known as "Sen. Absent"!

Jon Kyl (our other Senator) does ten times the heavy lifting as McCain with none of the self-promotion...

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

And Specter is ....?

 

[Be Careful What You Wish For.]

And Specter is ....?

The emphasis has shifted.

Western Pa is no longer the "Mecca".

The rest of the country moves on.

As a secondary thought- would PIT survive a UA merger?

Would it survive any other merger?

As conjecture could someone show me where the the long term future of PIT would be?

 

[PITbull]

And Specter is ....?

The emphasis has shifted.

Western Pa is no longer the "Mecca".

The rest of the country moves on.

As a secondary thought- would PIT survive a UA merger?

Would it survive any other merger?

As conjecture could someone show me where the the long term future of PIT would be?

I see Pittsburgh only getting more populated from this point. Pittsburgh is the Health Care Mecca. Folks come from all over the country and world to get educated in our Universities that are huge in the medical/research business. Baby boomers are retiring, getting older with health care needs. Casinos will bring in business from neighboring states, and Western PA is still affordable for housing and raising families in great school districts.

Future is bright for Pittsburgh and for any airline that comes in.

Toast to prosperity for Pittsburgh in the coming years!!!!!