Delta Connection Announcement Today

[Headfake14]

....wasn't getting much attention on another thread with just the link.

heres most of it.



Delta Connection Goes First Class With More Two-Class Jets, Upgraded Onboard Amenities
Thursday May 24, 8:00 am ET
Airline to replace 14 older CRJs with upgraded CRJ900s; Delta continues efforts to improve overall Delta Connection experience with investments in regional fleet, customer service
ATLANTA, May 24, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL - News) is making flying regional jets fun again with the introduction of more First Class seats, enhanced snack and beverage service, and improved airport amenities for customers flying Delta Connection carriers to and from major U.S. hubs.
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Building on a fleet of 63 two-class regional jets already planned for service by the end of 2008, Delta is replacing 14 CRJ aircraft currently in service with new Bombardier CRJ900s featuring 12 First Class seats. With the additional aircraft, Delta Connection carriers will operate one of the industry's largest two-class regional jet fleets with 77 aircraft in service by the end of 2008, including 61 76-seat Bombardier CRJ900s and 16 70-seat Embraer 170s.
``A decade ago Delta Connection was the first program using regional jets in North America, making it possible for more customers and communities to be connected conveniently and comfortably to our major hubs,'' said Jim Whitehurst, Delta's chief operating officer. ``Today, we mark the next milestone in the evolution of regional flying by making Delta Connection service more like Delta mainline, with more First Class seats, improved onboard snack and beverage service, and a more seamless travel experience with mainline jets.''
In addition to fleet improvements, Delta also is investing in improved facilities and customer amenities for Delta Connection customers throughout its system. Planned improvements include: * Assuming responsibility for all airport customer service and baggage handling for Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines at Delta's largest hub in Atlanta, effective June 1; * Adding jet bridges to offer customers covered boarding to Delta Connection flights at Concourse C in Atlanta; * Creating a new organization within Delta with sole accountability for Delta Connection performance, including operations and commercial fleet planning; * Replacing seat cushions throughout the Delta Connection fleet for increased customer comfort; * Implementing Delta's cleaning program at Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Comair with plans to roll it out to all Delta Connection carriers; and, * Featuring Delta's Midnight Sky Signature Cocktail Program and complimentary snack service onboard all Delta Connection flights.
``Delta continues to listen to our customers who have told us that they prefer the option of First Class seats and enhanced service on the ground when they fly on Delta Connection,'' Whitehurst said. ``Our investment in additional two-class RJs, as well as continued investments in the customer experience at our airports, is a critical step in ensuring that customers who fly Delta and Delta Connection can expect similar levels of service on any size of airplane, from our regional jets to our flagship Boeing 777.'' Currently, Delta Connection carriers Shuttle America, SkyWest, Freedom Airlines and Pinnacle Airlines operate or are scheduled to operate two-class regional jets for Delta. Later today, Delta will announce which Delta Connection partner will operate the additional two-class jets.

 

[ASAFOE120]

Replacing 14 older CRJ aircraft. Boy if those are coming from ASA's fleet, thats gonna hurt. It will also bring all this hiring and upgrading to a halt. I already downgraded once since last December. Sure hope I dont have to go through that again.

Bracing myself for the worst.

 

[Sinca3]

$100 says Comair gets them...........at some pathetic rate!

 

[MELIT]

$100 says Comair gets them...........at some pathetic rate!

Hang on, ASA has started the bashing already. Thats no suprise, is it?

 

[711-24-7]

$100 says Comair gets them...........at some pathetic rate!

You are probably correct, considering they are meeting today for an announcement which are gathered from the other Comair thread. CEO's do not come and make anoouncement unless they have something good to say to make themselves look good. Hence Comair and CEO meeting today.

 

[79%N1]

Replacing 14 older CRJ aircraft. Boy if those are coming from ASA's fleet, thats gonna hurt. It will also bring all this hiring and upgrading to a halt. I already downgraded once since last December. Sure hope I dont have to go through that again.

Bracing myself for the worst.

Of course they are coming out of ASA's fleet!!! Look around......ASA is being diluted more and more every day. Delta wants to make ASA as small a player as possible due to our labor problems. Once we are the minority player in ATL, they will have completely insulated themselves from our crap. Skywest will have shown their pilot group the perils of unionizing, and everybody is happy.....except all the contract employees at ASA. Keep watching. Less aircraft at ASA, no new 700/900's. Comair will grow, they have a concessionary contract and are wholly-owned. Mesa and CHQ will continue to grow and replace ASA in ATL. Skywest will soon have more flying and a larger ATL base. ASA will soon be irrelavant, as will our bargaining power. The longer we 'hold out' for this industry leading contract, the more impossible it will be to get one, and ASA pilots will be left holding the bag.

 

[ASAFOE120]

Of course they are coming out of ASA's fleet!!! Look around......ASA is being diluted more and more every day. Delta wants to make ASA as small a player as possible due to our labor problems. Once we are the minority player in ATL, they will have completely insulated themselves from our crap. Skywest will have shown their pilot group the perils of unionizing, and everybody is happy.....except all the contract employees at ASA. Keep watching. Less aircraft at ASA, no new 700/900's. Comair will grow, they have a concessionary contract and are wholly-owned. Mesa and CHQ will continue to grow and replace ASA in ATL. Skywest will soon have more flying and a larger ATL base. ASA will soon be irrelavant, as will our bargaining power. The longer we 'hold out' for this industry leading contract, the more impossible it will be to get one, and ASA pilots will be left holding the bag.

Well if they were trying to shrink us out of existence, then why did they transfer those 700's from Comair to us? Shouldnt those have gone to SkyW?

 

[Blucher]

Replacing 14 older CRJ aircraft. Boy if those are coming from ASA's fleet, thats gonna hurt. It will also bring all this hiring and upgrading to a halt. I already downgraded once since last December. Sure hope I dont have to go through that again.

Bracing myself for the worst.

Don't sweat it too much. Have you been watching how junior upgrades have been starting to go? You've got a fair amount of padding below you this time.

-Blucher

 

[ASAFOE120]

Don't sweat it too much. Have you been watching how junior upgrades have been starting to go? You've got a fair amount of padding below you this time.

-Blucher

Well, thats a good point and I am thankful for that. This roller coaster ride is getting real old real fast though!

 

[Beergut]

I heard we are getting more ATR's. They make a ton of money.:nuts:

 

[B727FA]

Yup...they're going to OH.

 

[Speedtape]

Of course they are coming out of ASA's fleet!!! Look around......ASA is being diluted more and more every day. Delta wants to make ASA as small a player as possible due to our labor problems. Once we are the minority player in ATL, they will have completely insulated themselves from our crap. Skywest will have shown their pilot group the perils of unionizing, and everybody is happy.....except all the contract employees at ASA. Keep watching. Less aircraft at ASA, no new 700/900's. Comair will grow, they have a concessionary contract and are wholly-owned. Mesa and CHQ will continue to grow and replace ASA in ATL. Skywest will soon have more flying and a larger ATL base. ASA will soon be irrelavant, as will our bargaining power. The longer we 'hold out' for this industry leading contract, the more impossible it will be to get one, and ASA pilots will be left holding the bag.

Has ASA been shrinking or growing? When were the last airplanes (assets) transferred? Will the pay on 900's be any different than pay on 70's? Many analysts have predicted that 50's will be replaced with larger aircraft. Delta wants 2 class service on most of their planes in the D.C. Is the sky really falling? The likelihood of you losing your job at ASA is unlikely. There is a pilot shortage. They need the lift.

 

[79%N1]

But...........the 70's can go back to Comair with the swift stroke of a pen. And, while ASA may have been experiencing miniscule growth compared to Mesa/Feedumb, CHQ and Skywest, Delta will continue to dilute ASA during these looooong drawn out negotiations and JA at SKYW will continue to punish the bad ALPA boys and show his Skywest angels the perils of a union are. Just watch. And your all right....the 50 is dying and will be replaced. By Mesa, Skywest, Freedom, Pinnacle and Chatauqua's 90 seaters and EMB 170/175, and Deltas 190/195's.

 

[GearUpLightsIn]

I am making the assumption that our 15 yr contract with Delta states that ASA does 80% connection flying out of ATL. I haven't read the contract, but people seem to state that as fact. So unless they change the contract to SKywest Inc. etc. we still have that going for us. That has not happend yet. If SKywest and Big D were to do this so that they can transfer assets to Skywest Airlines that does seem to smack of an action by the company against the pilots here at ASA. I am sure the NMB can ignore anything they like, but that would be a hard one to ignore.

 

[tyler24]

comair got 14 900's.. im the first to write it

 

[SPDBRD747400]

I am making the assumption that our 15 yr contract with Delta states that ASA does 80% connection flying out of ATL. I haven't read the contract, but people seem to state that as fact. So unless they change the contract to SKywest Inc. etc. we still have that going for us. That has not happend yet. If SKywest and Big D were to do this so that they can transfer assets to Skywest Airlines that does seem to smack of an action by the company against the pilots here at ASA. I am sure the NMB can ignore anything they like, but that would be a hard one to ignore.

My understanding on the 80% thing was that is already been below 80% for ASA for some time. Contracts can and do get broken or violated so it seems DL will do what they want, our performance based on our contract to DL is not being lived up to so DL appears to have had enough...

 

[79%N1]

comair got 14 900's.. im the first to write it

Makes sens. Delta probably wanted 2 class RJ service out of CVG to select markets, makes sense for Comair to do the flying...unlike ATL, where Delta just enlists Mesa, Pinnacle and Skywest and leaves the high cost, greedy ASA pilots out of the mix. (sarcasm)

 

[Otto]

Article from the Cincy Enquirer

Comair gets 14 new jets
BY ALEXANDER COOLIDGE

Comair is getting 14 bigger regional jets.
Parent company Delta Air Lines said today it has negotiated a deal with Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier to swap out 14 10-year-old, 50-seat CRJ-100s and upgrade them with 14 CRJ-900 regional jets with 76 seats. The new aircraft feature 12 seats in a first-class section.
While the new aircraft won’t boost the Erlanger-based airline’s fleet of 130, it will add 75 new flight attendant jobs. Pilot and support staffing levels will stay the same.
Delta executive said the upgrade wouldn’t factor into whether it ultimately sells the regional airline.
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Comair officials say extra seats, plus some first-class ticket sales, will boost revenues. They are still deciding what routes will get the biggest jets, which will be delivered from August to February. The first scheduled service will be Sept. 1.
Comair president Don Bornhorst said winning the new aircraft was welcome switch from the regional airline’s struggles in bankruptcy, from which it and Delta emerged last month. Delta shrank Comair’s fleet by 44 jets during the restructuring as well as cutting 450 jobs.

“We’re very excited – we’ve had larger deliveries but this is most meaningful given the backdrop of all the changes and sacrifices we had to handle,” he said. “This would not have been possible without the restructuring.”

Delta chief operating officer Jim Whitehurst said the Atlanta carrier’s feeder network only has a handful of the latest jets currently in operation. He said the new equipment would better accommodate customers connecting at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

“We found especially in markets like Cincinnati customers ask for first-class upgrades,” he said, adding first-class passengers would “substantially” boost revenue.

Whitehurst said the latest move, however, shouldn’t be read as a sign Delta plans to keep Comair. He said Delta’s new board of directors is still deciding on plans for the future, including on who will replace chief executive Gerald Grinstein, who wants to retire, and whether to sell Comair.

“Comair will continue to be an important part of Delta’s regional network regardless of whether we own it,” he said.


I guess it's better than bad news but me thinks it was overhyped...net growth = ZERO

 

[atlcrjdriver]

Of course they are coming out of ASA's fleet!!! Look around......ASA is being diluted more and more every day.

It sounds more like as the CR9s come online that Comair will swap out 1 for 1.

 

[SSDD]

So what will the Comair payrate be for the 900?