Looks like DAL needs pilots to fly the INTL and to feed the INTL... only the feed will be a CRJ/mainline mix.... what ratio yeilds how many new DAL pilots...
Delta is swapping out CRJ 50 seaters for larger 76 seaters (not adding, but more of a one for one deal). DCI will get more 76 seaters if we at mainline grow. Due to the horrible congestion problems at JFK, adding larger RJs (76 seaters) adds seats and allows for more feed without adding more RJs. There comes a point, though, where we need to add mainline planes with a lot more seats (an MD90 has 156 seats vs 76 seats on a CR9) if the routes get consistantly full, especially since a CR9 and an MD90 both require a gate. That is why we are getting some MD90s and there are a lot more out there available. Anderson is still being conservative (only getting 9 MD90s initially) until things look a little better for the domestic side. The 7 737-700s we start getting next July will do a mix of domestic flying along with mostly INTL flying--to islands and Central America stuff.
A lot of newhires are going to the INTL 767 at JFK initally, but they are allowed to bid the domestic side (at a base other than JFK) right away if they choose. As we get the MD90s and 737-700s, expect more newhires to get assigned those if current pilots do not bid them on future bids.
The big deal coming up here for us is the arrival of 777LRs. We have 8 confirmed orders (4 in 08, 4 in 09), but rumors circulate that we will have 25 total in the next 3-5 years. That is a lot of movement. Our first two will come in March, and start ATL---Shanghai service (John Pennekamp--I forgot that new route too---sorry), which will be daily service. That will be 14 hours each way, and will require 2 Captains and 2 FOs on each flight. (there is a nice crew rest facility above first class) If we get 20-25 LRs, which will do the Long Range stuff (like ATL--Johanesburg nonstop supposedly), that will require a heck of a lot more pilots. And, everyone moving up to that plane allows others to move up to other planes. No doubt there will be a lot of 76 seaters out there because of our growth, but even one of those cannot replace the revenue brought in by a 156 seat MD88 or 90 with lease rates of only $80,000 a month, the same or less than a new CR9.
Bye Bye--General Lee
