DAL Dec 3rd Class Aircraft Assignments...

[Tanker1497]

Any news yet folks?

Thanks!

 

[jonjuan]

Any news yet folks?

Thanks!

Rumor is mainly E-170s.

 

[EMBpilot]

24 JFK 7ER
About 50/50 mil. vs civilian.

 

[KCPilot]

Sweet! I can't leave until you guys show up. So hurry up and get trained, it's freaking cold here today!

 

[General Lee]

Rumor is mainly E-170s.

That could be for Northwest. We are getting 9 MD90s in 08, plus 7 737-700s and at least 4 777LRs. But, you knew that....... Good try though.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[PeanuckleCRJ]

So, when was the announcement about the 90's, Gen?

Gonna be funny when we end up flying together, haha.

 

[Sedona16]

That could be for Northwest. We are getting 9 MD90s in 08, plus 7 737-700s and at least 4 777LRs. But, you knew that....... Good try though.

Bye Bye--General Lee

General, how did you like flying the 738? I know its no 757 but did you find the trips decent and the airplane ok in general (no pun intended)?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

If you watch the 3Q web cast, they are talking about the 90's like it is a certainty. Watch it, I was surprised that they were as open about it as they were.

 

[Pat Fabin]

The -800 is great....I think better than the domestic 757 trips. A great variety in destinations, great avionics...just not the big, quiet cockpit of the 757.

I'm flying the ER now and I love the destinations and social atmosphere, but I miss the actual flying of the -800. You can never have everything!

 

[General Lee]

So, when was the announcement about the 90's, Gen?

Gonna be funny when we end up flying together, haha.

Anderson's town hall meeting with employees. It is on the Delta net. Go to the section about INTL and fleet expansion.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

General, how did you like flying the 738? I know its no 757 but did you find the trips decent and the airplane ok in general (no pun intended)?

I flew it for a year back in the late 90s. It was a great plane, with large displays. I think it has the best trips by far domestically, with some INTL thrown in there too. It does the Islands, Cancun, Caracas, Panama, Managua, San Pedro Sula, Rotan, San Salvador, and Bermuda. The cockpit is kind of a tight fit, but not too bad on 3-4 hour legs. More than that can get tiresome. I think you will enjoy it.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[sleepy]

Delta president says job cuts, freezes on horizon
Airline tightens belt to offset fuel prices

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/04/07
Delta Air Lines plans some job cuts, a partial hiring freeze, fleet reductions and other steps to cut capacity in response to high fuel costs, the carrier's president said Tuesday.
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• More Delta/aviation news
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Delta President Ed Bastian said the carrier has set a "$400 million productivity target" for next year to offset jet fuel costs that have soared in tandem with near-record crude oil prices, which reached almost $100 a barrel in recent weeks.
"We are pulling down domestic supply considerably," Bastian said during a Web cast of an investors conference.
In updated guidance to investors, Bastian said Delta now expects its operating profit margins in the final three months of the year to be flat or down 2 percent as a result of high fuel prices. The carrier had earlier projected operating margins of 3 percent to 5 percent in the fourth quarter.
The revised estimate means Delta will likely report a loss in the fourth quarter.
This year, airlines had been rebounding after years of losses as Delta and other carriers emerged from bankruptcy reorganizations with much leaner operations.
But Bastian said Delta is once again taking cost-cutting measures such as freezing new hires in "non-public-facing" job categories and targeting some unspecified positions for cuts. It is also parking aircraft and reducing its marketing budget in the face of a steep rise in fuel costs, its largest expense.
Delta now expects its average fuel price in the final three months of the year to be $2.60 per gallon, about 13 percent higher than previous projections. Jet fuel is Delta's largest expense.
Bastian said the carrier plans to freeze staff jobs that don't deal directly with customers. He said Delta has also "targeted some job cuts" but didn't offer specifics.
He said Delta has returned seven leased mainline jets and six smaller regional jets to reduce flying in the United States, and will cut 45 more jets next year.
"We'll take further steps to reduce supply" if fuel prices don't "stabilize," he said.
The carrier has more than 400 mainline jets in its fleet.
The reductions in Delta's domestic flying continue a strategy the airline has relied on during much of its turnaround efforts, as the growing competition from discount carriers has made many U.S. routes unprofitable for big network carriers.
Bastian said Delta will continue growing its more profitable overseas flying next year, where it is better able to pass higher fuel costs on to customers.
"We'll be growing international in relatively unabated terms," he said.
Anticipating questions about the airline industry's sagging stock performance, Bastian "we're also looking at the consolidation question" and taking other steps to boost Delta's market value.
He repeated an earlier announcement that a committee of its directors is looking at options ranging from acquiring another carrier to remaining an independent airline.
He said Delta will also take steps to more clearly report the financial performance of some of its operations that provide services to outside businesses, such as the maintenance division, its Delta Air Elite business jet unit, and its Comair regional carrier, which has previously said it is considering selling

 

[General Lee]

Delta president says job cuts, freezes on horizon
Airline tightens belt to offset fuel prices

By RUSSELL GRANTHAM
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 12/04/07
Delta Air Lines plans some job cuts, a partial hiring freeze, fleet reductions and other steps to cut capacity in response to high fuel costs, the carrier's president said Tuesday.
[ Submit your comments below. ]
• More Delta/aviation news
• More Business news

Delta President Ed Bastian said the carrier has set a "$400 million productivity target" for next year to offset jet fuel costs that have soared in tandem with near-record crude oil prices, which reached almost $100 a barrel in recent weeks.
"We are pulling down domestic supply considerably," Bastian said during a Web cast of an investors conference.
In updated guidance to investors, Bastian said Delta now expects its operating profit margins in the final three months of the year to be flat or down 2 percent as a result of high fuel prices. The carrier had earlier projected operating margins of 3 percent to 5 percent in the fourth quarter.
The revised estimate means Delta will likely report a loss in the fourth quarter.
This year, airlines had been rebounding after years of losses as Delta and other carriers emerged from bankruptcy reorganizations with much leaner operations.
But Bastian said Delta is once again taking cost-cutting measures such as freezing new hires in "non-public-facing" job categories and targeting some unspecified positions for cuts. It is also parking aircraft and reducing its marketing budget in the face of a steep rise in fuel costs, its largest expense.
Delta now expects its average fuel price in the final three months of the year to be $2.60 per gallon, about 13 percent higher than previous projections. Jet fuel is Delta's largest expense.
Bastian said the carrier plans to freeze staff jobs that don't deal directly with customers. He said Delta has also "targeted some job cuts" but didn't offer specifics.
He said Delta has returned seven leased mainline jets and six smaller regional jets to reduce flying in the United States, and will cut 45 more jets next year.
"We'll take further steps to reduce supply" if fuel prices don't "stabilize," he said.
The carrier has more than 400 mainline jets in its fleet.
The reductions in Delta's domestic flying continue a strategy the airline has relied on during much of its turnaround efforts, as the growing competition from discount carriers has made many U.S. routes unprofitable for big network carriers.
Bastian said Delta will continue growing its more profitable overseas flying next year, where it is better able to pass higher fuel costs on to customers.
"We'll be growing international in relatively unabated terms," he said.
Anticipating questions about the airline industry's sagging stock performance, Bastian "we're also looking at the consolidation question" and taking other steps to boost Delta's market value.
He repeated an earlier announcement that a committee of its directors is looking at options ranging from acquiring another carrier to remaining an independent airline.
He said Delta will also take steps to more clearly report the financial performance of some of its operations that provide services to outside businesses, such as the maintenance division, its Delta Air Elite business jet unit, and its Comair regional carrier, which has previously said it is considering selling

Those job cuts were already announced---back office jobs. Pilot hiring and flight attendant hiring will continue. The planes that were given back to lessors were already known, a few MD88s and a couple 763s that we tried to negotiate for but never settled on the terms. The planes that will be parked (45) will be 50 seat RJs.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

Those job cuts were already announced---back office jobs. Pilot hiring and flight attendant hiring will continue. The planes that were given back to lessors were already known, a few MD88s and a couple 763s that we tried to negotiate for but never settled on the terms. The planes that will be parked (45) will be 50 seat RJs.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Actually, it is 35 RJs, and 10 "virtual" mainline planes that will be transferred from DOM to INTL, thus vacating some domestic capacity.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[sleepy]

Well, that is good news for the pilots at least. What is upgrade time to Capt these days General?

 

[Helos2Galaxy]

MD-88 is the junior aircraft in both seats...

ATL Capt is an early 1999 hire.
NYC Capt is a July 2000 hire.

Some (myself included) have bypassed to avoid reserve. I hope to pick up the NYC CA in the next bid announcement, supposedly scheduled for Feb 2008.

 

[motch]

Don (Ho) says hello.. we're in class together~

Always
Motch

 

[FUZZO]

start looking for a new job if you're a new hire....geez....airline management=idiots!!!!

 

[~~~^~~~]

I thought it was FUZZZO with three "z" - great screen name.

 

[DBCOOPER]

ATL M88 Capt = Hired 11/99
NYC M88 Capt = Hired 07/00
ATL 777 F/O = Hired 12/00
ATL 767-400 = Hired 03/01

Every other F/O category can be held almost immediately as a new hire.

 

[Pat Fabin]

Um...the 4th quarter is generally always poor for airlines...I don't see how this is really news, especially in light of the retardedly volatile oil prices lately. I don't think we'll be the only ones with a bad 4th quarter.

Things are good here at DAL, with lots of good stuff on the horizon, so the newhires should not worry.

Now if we could just get a 60% raise...

 

[GogglesPisano]

Um...the 4th quarter is generally always poor for airlines...I don't see how this is really news, especially in light of the retardedly volatile oil prices lately. I don't think we'll be the only ones with a bad 4th quarter.

Things are good here at DAL, with lots of good stuff on the horizon, so the newhires should not worry.

Now if we could just get a 60% raise...

Let's hope you are right and FUZZO is wrong.

 

[General Lee]

Let's hope you are right and FUZZO is wrong.

Fuzzo is wrong. If he is so unhappy he should leave. Delta has a plan to expand internationally and create more revenue during a flat or negative US economy. We are moving more domestic planes to the INTL side, and that is what the announcement read, the "EQUIVALENT" of 10 mainline planes would be removed from the domestic capacity. Our balance sheet has been cleaned up (a part I didn't enjoy), and we are in a better position than any domestic LCC with INTL flying to fall back on. We are still hiring pilots and flight attendants, and have no current plans to actually park any planes. Fuel prices have hurt all airlines, even Southwest, and even they are slowing down a bit.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Fuel prices have hurt all airlines, even Southwest, and even they are slowing down a bit.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Hey General,

Not being a cheerleader for SWA, but they are hedged at the 50-60 dollar range. As oil prices climb, they actually make out better.....

 

[General Lee]

Hey General,

Not being a cheerleader for SWA, but they are hedged at the 50-60 dollar range. As oil prices climb, they actually make out better.....

So, is that why they are being more cautious? Isn't there an article on that thread? Not all of their fuel is based on hedges, and with their costs climbing from other fixed costs (employee wages etc), they either raise fares (which help us all), or slow down a bit and we all take a hit. They can't just move planes to their INTL side to hunt for better revenue, primarily because they don't fly INTL routes. But, they can raise their fares, and they may just have to do more of that and help us all in return.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[~~~^~~~]

I heard in a meeting that SouthWest's hedges are expiring and they, like DL and everyone else, thought fuel would be in the $60 range after hurricane season. Nobody bought hedges at $90 because with the 10% or so transactional cost a $90 hedge is a $100 bet on oil.

Things are getting more peaceful in the Middle East, Chavez failed in his attempt to get a lifetime post in Venezuela - hopefully oil keeps falling.

Wonder how SkyBus is making out with their $9 flights

 

[On Your Six]

No airline is immune with $80-100 oil. Watch the RJs go bye bye on competitive routes (e.g., SWA also flies that route) in that type of environment (especially the upper end of that price range).

Can you imagine how much money AA, UAL and DAL would make on the LA-NYC and SFO-NYC sectors if Jet Blue and Virgin America weren't holding fares lower through competition? Virtually none of those runs can be profitable for the legacy carriers at these oil prices considering their higher operating costs...

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I am curious where the 35 RJ's will come from. DAL owns 40 of ASA's 50's and a bunch of CMR's.

 

[DL_Infidel]

Now if we could just get a 60% raise...

That would be restoration. I think that's what you meant.

 

[bleagle]

General,

Open skies may be a reality in 2010... this means a drastic increase in INTL competition. Specifically, LHR may be the target of many other "carriers"... how will this affect DL and the other legacies with an increase of International/domestic competition?