Astar Future Plans?

[hvydriver]

Those new ones DHL bought? I would have sworn those would have gone to their EU airline since they are ER's exclusive to international flights. Good to hear American pilots could still be in the running for them. Our economy needs every job it can get.


p.s. And that was before all the people that lost their jobs from the airlines that just shut down.
p.p.s. SCREW OPEN SKIES!

I don't really think we're much in the running. I think they'll go to DHLAviation. And, fwiw Shooter, I agree with you in your earlier post that the probs. DHL has are not with either airline, but with the ground network. Unfortuneatly, I think we're going to bear the brunt of the restructure though.

 

[shooter]

I don't really think we're much in the running. I think they'll go to DHLAviation. And, fwiw Shooter, I agree with you in your earlier post that the probs. DHL has are not with either airline, but with the ground network. Unfortuneatly, I think we're going to bear the brunt of the restructure though.

If thats true then thats just wrong and sucks. I will continue to hope for the best.

 

[TWA]

When a company goes in the sh!tter, the fastest and easiest thing to liquidate is the aviation side. It doesn't matter if it's a small company with 1 citation, or a large shipping company, aircraft are almost always first to go.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

I feel (not that that means anything) the problems are within the ground network they have so screwed up. I think that is why the FedEx rumors were being tossed around. They were talking because thats where the problems are. Now if Fred said something like; yes we will take your ground delivery operations to remote locations but only if we get some or all of the air operations, then it gets real bad. Until then I do not see, hope we do not see, a loss in the air operations.

As I understand it, the ground network feeds the air network, which feeds the sort, which again feeds the air and ground networks. The only part that the customer sees or cares about is the ground network...the guy who pick-up and delivers his packages.

Do you think that FedEx would be willing to take on responsibility for "only" the ground delivery portion of this process, or will they want control of everything that comes in between, such as air ops and sort? Are FedEx tracking and handling systems compatible with ABX/Astar, and who will load the planes? What does FedEx pilot's contract say about the company using ACMI carriers to haul FedEx-branded freight?

 

[shooter]

When a company goes in the sh!tter, the fastest and easiest thing to liquidate is the aviation side. It doesn't matter if it's a small company with 1 citation, or a large shipping company, aircraft are almost always first to go.

True, but if you are in the express business you need aircraft and lots of them. Unless Mr.Scotty teaches them how to "beam" packages across the country.

If they cut back on planes they cut back on express service and will no longer be an express service provider. And that goes against every move they have made. If they wanted to only be a trucking company they should have bought one.

 

[shooter]

As I understand it, the ground network feeds the air network, which feeds the sort, which again feeds the air and ground networks. The only part that the customer sees or cares about is the ground network...the guy who pick-up and delivers his packages.

Do you think that FedEx would be willing to take on responsibility for "only" the ground delivery portion of this process, or will they want control of everything that comes in between, such as air ops and sort? Are FedEx tracking and handling systems compatible with ABX/Astar, and who will load the planes? What does FedEx pilot's contract say about the company using ACMI carriers to haul FedEx-branded freight?

Well I'm not a ground guy so I don't really know much of what you are asking. But when it comes to pick-ups I think its safe to say most are from business locations and majority of packages are delivery in the rural areas. So I think FedEx could easily handle delivery of the packages as could the Post Office to the rural areas. If DHL only had half (and I would think it would take less than that) of the vehicles doing pick-ups while FedEx does delivery, it could be done. But like I said I'm an air guy and not a ground guy, plus keep in mind that DHL said they do not need a partner. Who knows where it would go but I feel very strong about the air network being stretched thin as it is. Any thinner and they would essentially be out of the express business. But my opinions are bias, of course.

p.s. To answer if FedEx would take on the delivery portion, I would ask why not? If they could reduce their costs by half with DHL picking up the other, it would mean HUGE savings. Do you know I see a DHL van and a FedEx van come through my neighborhood almost daily? Now if one van had both packages to deliver it would save both companies. Plus I think my FedEx driver is much nicer than my DHL driver as he does not speed through my streets where children playing signs are posted all over.

 

[TWA]

True, but if you are in the express business you need aircraft and lots of them. Unless Mr.Scotty teaches them how to "beam" packages across the country.

If they cut back on planes they cut back on express service and will no longer be an express service provider. And that goes against every move they have made. If they wanted to only be a trucking company they should have bought one.

I don't think it really goes against every move that they have made. How many 9's have been parked? How many cities are now trucked? They are trying to run an express company as cheaply as possible, by eliminating aircraft wherever possible. Before too long, the entire DHL network will be a fleet of Geo Metros scurrying across the country trying to get a box from EWR to LAX by 1030. Shame on us Americans for expecting our packages on time.

 

[shooter]

I don't think it really goes against every move that they have made. How many 9's have been parked? How many cities are now trucked? They are trying to run an express company as cheaply as possible, by eliminating aircraft wherever possible. Before too long, the entire DHL network will be a fleet of Geo Metros scurrying across the country trying to get a box from EWR to LAX by 1030. Shame on us Americans for expecting our packages on time.

Thats funny, TWA. But DHL offers that package and we pay a premium price for it. If they want to take the express option off the menu, then so be it.

 

[TWA]

Thats funny, TWA. But DHL offers that package and we pay a premium price for it. If they want to take the express option off the menu, then so be it.

I agree 100%. From looking at DHL's past moves, it is a very slippery slope. They will offer very unreliable service before they cancel the service.

 

[shooter]

You know, we all talk about planes getting reduced, trucks getting reduced, competitors taking our boxes to doors but when it comes right down to it DHL is just losing customers. If they did not lose customers planes would be full, trucks would be full, our competitors would be looking at us deliver our boxes by plane, truck, van and courier. So bottom line is they can cut and cut and cut but the bleeding is coming from customers going. Find out why they are leaving and fix it that way the only thing we would be discussing is what new routes each company would be getting rather than which ones are lost.

Hey you want rumor? How about FedEx and UPS are price fixing large customer accounts to drive DHL under. Naaaa, sounds too much like an excuse.