From the DAL/NWA rumor mill

[CitationLover]

Anybody have any guess as to what will happen with Northwest's 47% ownership of Midwest?

couple of options:

1) integrate (399 is not a large number of pilots) and keep the a/c to replace dc-9's. our md88's can be brought over to the DAL side. the DoJ has already indirectly signed off on a NWA/MEH merger with the TPG deal. MEH will be merged into NWA first and then the DAL seniority list will be merged.

2) sell down to 30% (delta's scope limiting number unless this changed in their recent negotiations, hence the reason MEH would need to be merged with NWA first).

3) sell the whole share

4) let it go away

ulimately it will probably be #'s 1 and 4 with the furloughs that may occur. 2 and 3 involve carriers they do NOT want in MKE (who is growing the most in MKE now?). TPG doesn't care as long as it has made it's money, which I imagine DAL "assisting" their share in the initial purchase.

we shall see. from what i hear the whole TPG deal got under way by TH trying to get a DAL code share to ward off AAI. DAL rebuffed him into NWA's arms. I am sure the DAL/NWA planning was well in hand by then. it's no coincidence senior leadership at all three airlines are related somehow (DAL's to NWA, MEH's to DAL, and NWA's to both).

 

[jester757]

DAL gets to vote...so says our MEC. Then again, they might be full of sh1t and break yet another promise. Any one heard about furlough protection being eliminated? IF our MEC gave that up they can have my pin when they pull it out of their ass!

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Wait for the details....
No one is talking for good reason.

 

[nwaredtail]

DAL gets to vote...so says our MEC. Then again, they might be full of sh1t and break yet another promise. Any one heard about furlough protection being eliminated? IF our MEC gave that up they can have my pin when they pull it out of their ass!

"in the know" people have told some that the 2 year no furlough clause was pulled from the deal before the last talks broke down. Not confirmed, as nothing is except for what Puff and the General tell us.

 

[Schwanker]

Everyone keeps talking about parking the -9s. If this happens, it would be DUE TO THE MERGER. NWA pilot's pre-merger career expectations are based on the -9s being around.

Some on here talk about buying MD-90s... to replace the -9s. Why? The -9s are paid for. NWA has stated the -9 cost $35 per seat per segment less to operate than new 737s with oil at $100. With zero lease payments, they are cheap to operate despite the fuel burn. Replacing the -9 would drive seat mile costs up. Not a great idea. They do a great job up to the 800-1000 mile range. They're capable of longer legs, but you likely will find more efficient aircraft for these longer legs and preserve the low cost -9s for the sub 800 mile legs. They have several years life left in them which could last until the next generation 100-125 seat aircraft hits the market.

Schwanker

 

[enuffalready]

i agree...

the logic makes sense to me... if you go lease/buy a brand new Hybrid and get 60mpg, your monthly nut is still significantly higher than my paid off jeep cherokee at 12 mpg. especially on shorter routes.

granted, there are other factors such as fleet similarity, maint, etc, but parking a paid off 9 simply because of fuel burn makes no sense

 

[~~~^~~~]

I'm not sure I can believe management would go for a system wide re-bid, even with the 747 and Dreamliner fenced. Way too much training and down time.

Odd that only NWA airplanes and bases are fenced, (which sounds like more agreed concessions to NWA) but allegedly NWA's MEC already shot down the list.

Could be true, but some details do not pass the common sense test & if true, Delta needs to hurry up and cancel the last couple of bids since those pilots could presumably no longer hold their seats.

 

[3ds]

I'm not sure I can believe management would go for a system wide re-bid, even with the 747 and Dreamliner fenced. Way too much training and down time.

Odd that only NWA airplanes and bases are fenced, (which sounds like more agreed concessions to NWA) but allegedly NWA's MEC already shot down the list.

Sounds like a good way to whittle down airplanes that are getting phased out while 'new' -90's or even mdw -88's come online. Might be a great deal if you live in dom and want to stay on some retiring equipment for as long as possible.

As for the sys wide rebid: it seems that most guys -- even NH's -- are happy where they are right now. And if they weren't, they had a good chance to change their position on the last AE bid (which saw a good deal of movt).

 

[~~~^~~~]

Everyone keeps talking about parking the -9s. If this happens, it would be DUE TO THE MERGER. NWA pilot's pre-merger career expectations are based on the -9s being around.

Schwanker

I hope you have your own list on which to test your theory that DC9's will never retire.

Regardless, the DC9 is a good bit smaller and pays less than anything Delta operates. If the DC9 stays, good for you, if the DC9 leaves you have the option of bidding equipment that is larger and pays more.

Apparently NWA's DC9 pilots are not being slotted below Delta's equipment. Relative seniority means you would go from a 9 to a 767ER - a heck of a windfall by any measure. Relative seniority also means Delta pilots are going to get bumped way down the equipment scale.

Career expectations obviously have nothing to do with what is happening.

 

[3ds]

I hope you have your own list on which to test your theory that DC9's will never retire.

Regardless, the DC9 is a good bit smaller and pays less than anything Delta operates. If the DC9 stays, good for you, if the DC9 leaves you have the option of bidding equipment that is larger and pays more.

Apparently NWA's DC9 pilots are not being slotted below Delta's equipment. Relative seniority means you would go from a 9 to a 767ER - a heck of a windfall by any measure. Relative seniority also means Delta pilots are going to get bumped way down the equipment scale.

Career expectations obviously have nothing to do with what is happening.

nothing improves morale faster than more hiring. Didn't someone say the hope was to make 1+1=3?