Whew...

[Rico]

With the details of the NWA Pilot TA becoming known, it appears that they have followed the example of the US Airways pilots and maintained any E-190 and larger flying in House, and at the Mainline.

And as with much of our industry, the trend established by the competition will be followed by those that follow (read: Delta)

Sorry Mr. Bedford (Republic CEO), no E-190's for you.

 

[USstew23]

With the details of the NWA Pilot TA becoming known, it appears that they have followed the example of the US Airways pilots and maintained any E-190 and larger flying in House, and at the Mainline.

And as with much of our industry, the trend established by the competition will be followed by those that follow (read: Delta)

Sorry Mr. Bedford (Republic CEO), no E-190's for you.

😀

 

[george]

Is it just me or has anyone noticed that everything that we do Northwest is asking for now? All my friends at northwest keep saying that that is all they hear on their side...Usairways, Usairways, Usairways. They want our contract, payscales, and equipment types. Remember when this happened to us with America West. Is it to much out of the realm to think that something else might be happening here. Now they are even consulting the company that gathered all the money for our merger. Is it too early to put my transfer in for DTW?

 

[flyin2low]

Has to do with Neal Cohen being there.

 

[Seatacus]

Is it to much out of the realm to think that something else might be happening here.

I am not much on conspiracy theories but you may be on to something. Who knows what might be discussed by the higher-ups behind closed doors or on the golf course.

 

[pilot]

Let's see. The only profitable airline in this country flies one type of A/C. They pay more than any of the legacy carriers. They don't fly overseas. They fly mostly point to point. They have a rational fare structure. They don't interline. They don't have first class. They don't fly RJ's or EMB 190's.

And they have never lost money. Ever.

And NWA, U, DAL, UAL, CAL, AMR, and the rest seem to ignore the successful formula. Pretty silly if you ask me.

pilot

 

[FCYTravis]

Let's see.

Yes, let's see. Every day, a wide majority of American travelers choose to fly an airline that is not named Southwest - airlines that have regional jets, airlines that offer First Class, airlines that have robust hub-and-spoke networks, airlines that fly to tiny towns like Elmira/Corning and Durango, airlines that offer membership lounges and airlines that cross the oceans.

Shocking.

 

[pilot]

You forgot one essential element.

Airlines that can't make money and end up in BK.

And isn't that why companies are in business in the first place?

pilot

 

[qwerty]

Pilot: would you reccomend all these airlines emulate WN? I am sure that by shedding all but one fleet type, all international service and all the amenities offered by a full-service carrier - an airline like US can be marginally profitable. Of course it means pay raises for the few remaining employees, let's hope you are senior enough to enjoy it.

Why not have some vision and try to offer more things to more customers, make money, grow, hire and do it all while matching WN on the "low-end".

 

[pilot]

Simple answer.

That formula has been attempted before and has never worked.

The only way to make it work is to charge the passengers more than what it costs to put a seat in the air. Problem is that using the formula you espouse the seat cost is more than most folks are willing to pay. Apparently it is. If that were not the case we'd be charging more for tix and making a profit.

I agree with the concept but so far it has proven unworkable. The managements say they cannot charge more but continue to lose money. So what is the answer?

If you won't remake your airline to copy Southwest, and you won't charge pax enough to make a profit tell me what you would do to make money. Because fuel isn't coming down and I don't see any of the Legacy's going to the Southwest business plan.

My point is simply that a company cannot make money with a money losing business plan. And, so far, being a hybrid LCC is a money losing business plan.

My solution is simple: Charge more than it costs to put seats in the sky. Seems like a no-brainer to me but the morons who run these companies can't seem to figure it out. Usually the best way to solve any problem is the easiest.

Any other suggestions?

pilot

 

[john john]

Simple answer.

Seems like a no-brainer to me but the morons who run these companies can't seem to figure it out.


pilot

jetBlue comes to mind

 

[pilot]

JetBlue: Better business plan than ours but the 190's are eating them alive at the moment.

But I think they have a better shot than the Legacy's at making money.

BTW, our labor costs are on par with theirs.

pilot

 

[john john]

JetBlue: Better business plan than ours but the 190's are eating them alive at the moment.
pilot

If that is the case I wonder why US is getting the E190

 

[Harry Callahan]

If that is the case I wonder why US is getting the E190

🙄 🙄 🙄

 

[pilot]

My opinion:

Because the pilot costs per hour are substantially less than the FK-100's or any other 100 seat jet.

I think adding another fleet type is a mistake. But I don't run an airline. So what the heck do I know. The people who run our company are proven airline managers.

pilot