Skywest proposes to XpressJet

[ATRCA]

Most likely XJet would pull back to Houston and Continental would get it's 69 ERJ's back, or more. I hear that they can cancel contracts for another 69 planes next January. That beautiful industry leading contract is a boulder hanging around your neck in the small jet provider sector. You have to ask yourself, "What's in it for SKYW?" What does EXJet have that SKYW might want? An expensive pilot contract? No. A backdoor for ALPA at SKYW? No. Additional flying for DAL at LAX? Yes. An independent branded opperation? Possibly. Another Major partner? Sure. If they can get what they want and insulate themselves from what they don't, wholesale or cheaper, then there might be a deal. Merger? Not likely, just ask ASA. Sorry for providing rational analysis. Mesa sucks, ALPA rules and Ron Paul for President! There is that better?

Cheers

Happy with the contract you work under? I'm sure its substandard and for some really demented reason, you would like to see the failure of a pilot group with a stronger contract. The worst part for you is that you bought into mgt's BS line that your pilot contract would make or break the company.

The reality of the situation is that XJT will survive or fail and there is nothing the pilot contract will do in either case. They pilots get what they negotiated, made the contract enforceable, and have exactly what they deserve. Too bad for you.

 

[Jon Rivoli]

I'm quite happy where I am thank you very much. If you're so sure our pay and work rules are so substandard, don't apply, please.

"The reality of the situation is that XJT will survive or fail and there is nothing the pilot contract will do in either case. They pilots get what they negotiated, made the contract enforceable, and have exactly what they deserve."

Just how long did it take CAL to drop those airplanes after that contract was ratified? Pilot labor costs are but one factor of many. You would have to ask CAL management if that was the deciding factor, but it was timely. Surely the prospect of additional reductions must give you reason to pause.

I do not wish to see the failure of XJet as you suggest. I am glad you are happy with your contract and wish to see your branded flying prosper. I think you are going about it in an intelligent manner focusing on smaller cities and avoiding directly competing with mainline. Everyone I know who has flown on you raves about the service.

The topic of the thread had to do with the possibility of Skywest acquiring XJet and I sought to offer some potential insights from SKYW's perspective.

Tomct and Superpilot; you wouldn't know intelligent discourse if it smacked you in the face.

Cheers

 

[ATRCA]

I'm quite happy where I am thank you very much. If you're so sure our pay and work rules are so substandard, don't apply, please.

"The reality of the situation is that XJT will survive or fail and there is nothing the pilot contract will do in either case. They pilots get what they negotiated, made the contract enforceable, and have exactly what they deserve."

Just how long did it take CAL to drop those airplanes after that contract was ratified? Pilot labor costs are but one factor of many. You would have to ask CAL management if that was the deciding factor, but it was timely. Surely the prospect of additional reductions must give you reason to pause.

I do not wish to see the failure of XJet as you suggest. I am glad you are happy with your contract and wish to see your branded flying prosper. I think you are going about it in an intelligent manner focusing on smaller cities and avoiding directly competing with mainline. Everyone I know who has flown on you raves about the service.

The topic of the thread had to do with the possibility of Skywest acquiring XJet and I sought to offer some potential insights from SKYW's perspective.

Tomct and Superpilot; you wouldn't know intelligent discourse if it smacked you in the face.

Cheers

Fair enough I guess, but the XJT pilot contract had nothing to do with the loss of XJT flying. There were many factors but pilot pay neither makes or breaks XJT financials. For the record, I don't work for XJT.

 

[ratherbeflyen]

Most likely XJet would pull back to Houston and Continental would get it's 69 ERJ's back, or more. I hear that they can cancel contracts for another 69 planes next January.

That statement sounds very factual, it makes it sound like you know what your talking about, but its only half truths. Makes it harder to wade through the bs.

That beautiful industry leading contract is a boulder hanging around your neck in the small jet provider sector. You have to ask yourself, "What's in it for SKYW?" What does EXJet have that SKYW might want? An expensive pilot contract? No. A backdoor for ALPA at SKYW? No.

True, being at the top usually puts you in a place that might leave a lot of room to fall. Instead of being pessimistic about xjt's contract try to be optimistic that everyone else will get as good or a better contract. Unless your for management. I wonder if the guys at FedEx UPS, and Southwest share your opinon and are trying to ditch the "boulder around their necks." I'm sure they are all saying lets take a pay cut to stay on industry average.

Should we put you up to a no vote on XJT SKYW mergers?

 

[Jon Rivoli]

Fed Ex and UPS are apples to oranges. I don't think WN pilots are expecting much more than COLA, I wish them well. An all important factor is that we fly for subcontractors who can be hired or fired relatively easily as has been demonstrated many times over the last few years. If the above mentioned pilot groups win large pay increases they have zero chance of getting fired.

Pessimistic, optimistic, realistic. You have to know where you stand.

I would be quite happy to see EXJet remain independant. ASA for that matter too. I have been a captain for a long time already and stand to gain nothing.

Cheers

 

[Capt. Caucasian]

When XJT lost those 69 airplanes they were cheaper than everyone else. Continental just wanted a new feeder airline to whipsaw no matter the cost. And cost it did...

 

[Flyin2low]

What synergies are there between Xjet and Skywest?

 

[ratherbeflyen]

Pessimistic, optimistic, realistic. You have to know where you stand.

Yup, we all know where you stand.... or lay as the case may be.

 

[skypine69]

Rivoli,
if you are so damn happy with where you work, why do you have a 737 type rating? Are you just getting the jump on when skywest gets guppies and you want to save them the training cost cause you are a company guy?

 

[sweptback]

I would be quite happy to see EXJet remain independant. ASA for that matter too. I have been a captain for a long time already and stand to gain nothing.

Sometimes it's not just about what is good for you.

 

[BoilerUP]

What synergies are there between Xjet and Skywest?

Best post in this thread yet.

Answer? Probably next to none.

Different fleet types, one union and one non-union pilot group, FAR too many 50 seat jets.

Skywest, Inc. would gain XJT's branded ops if they were interested, which they may or may not be. They'd also gain a large foothold into CalEx flying but would only be able to fly 50 seat jets unless CALALPA folded on scope...putting them into the same boat as RAH.

 

[ApocketA's_145]

Best post in this thread yet.

Answer? Probably next to none.

Different fleet types, one union and one non-union pilot group, FAR too many 50 seat jets.

Skywest, Inc. would gain XJT's branded ops if they were interested, which they may or may not be. They'd also gain a large foothold into CalEx flying but would only be able to fly 50 seat jets unless CALALPA folded on scope...putting them into the same boat as RAH.

what would it be for the pilot group, especially at xjet? is it a bad thing for something like this to happen?

 

[ratherbeflyen]

what would it be for the pilot group, especially at xjet? is it a bad thing for something like this to happen?

No one knows for sure, but ask the TWA guys what happens when you merge with a non ALPA carrier.

 

[PCL_128]

No one knows for sure, but ask the TWA guys what happens when you merge with a non ALPA carrier.

TWA was dealing with a possible 1113(c) filing. No comparison.

 

[ERJFO]

No one knows for sure, but ask the TWA guys what happens when you merge with a non ALPA carrier.

I guess you haven't herd of the legislature that was recently passed as a result of the TWA/AA merger, so that something like it can never happen again.

The link is copied below but it basically keeps an union's contract in place and allows for the ALPA merger policy between two ALPA groups or an arbitrated senority list between different groops. Never agian will it be lawful to dictate senority terms to a unionized pilot group like AA did to TWA.

http://www.alpa.org/DesktopModules/...px?itemid=12371&ModuleId=12565&Tabid=256#jump

In any case, I think a straight DOH integration would work fine for XJT and SKYW, don't you?