Delta wants to cancel more RJ contracts---next up--Pinnacle--article

[General Lee]

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 - 12:47 PM EDT Dayton Business Journal


Delta to terminate Pinnacle's Delta Connection contract

Delta will tear up its Delta Connection contract with Pinnacle Airlines Inc. on July 31, a move which Memphis, Tenn.-based Pinnacle is planning to fight.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. (NYSE: DAL) claims Pinnacle (NASDAQ: PNCL) did not meet minimum arrival-time performance requirements for a period since flights began late last year.
The move is a similar to one Delta made with Mesa Air Group in April, when Mesa reported Delta's plans to terminate its Delta Connection contract flying agreement with Mesa's Freedom Airlines Inc. due to a problem with the number of flights Freedom completed. In May, Mesa won a preliminary injunction against Delta to enjoin the airline from canceling the contract.
In Pinnacle's case, the airline said factors affecting on-time performance are beyond its control. Pinnacle Airlines Corp. President and CEO Phil Trenary said its operational schedule is created by Delta and is a key component of on-time performance.
"We are extremely surprised and disappointed that Delta is attempting to take this drastic and improper action," Trenary said. "From the very beginning of our Delta Connection operations, we expressed our concern that the flight schedules Delta created were unrealistic. Our position was affirmed when recent schedule changes by Delta allowed immediate improvement in our on-time performance, well above the agreed minimum standard and above most other Delta Connection carriers."
Trenary also called Delta's move "wrongful," and said Pinnacle will "pursue appropriate remedies."



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[PinnacleDude]

Considering they did not adequately staff the operation, I am not too surprised. I am surprised Delta did not get Phildo for a minimum completion rate. Oh well, I guess eliminating these flights will take care of any staffing difficulties.....

 

[EMB170Pilot]

Why did Delta bring on Mesa and Pinnacle in the beginning!?!?!?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Same reason they brought on Republic/Chautauqua/Shuttle. To beat up the ASA and Comair pilots. Delta is not ever going to let a Connection airline do the damage Comair did.

ASA has a contract now and has it's own alter ego whipsaw internally with SkyWest. No need for some of the other alter ego carriers now that ALPA is whipped at DCI.

I am surprised they whacked a CRJ900 operator, but I think they finally realized that Comair is a profit center. Why buy what you can take?

 

[Speedbird34]

Goodluck Pinnacle guys you are the greatest!!!

 

[Superpilot92]

maybe they are making room in ATL for some diesel 9's

 

[Jmoney]

maybe they are making room in ATL for some diesel 9's

You are completely insane if you think that would be chaper than contracting it out.

-I guess General Lee must have a younger sibling-that would certainly explain some genetic improbabilities.

 

[Superpilot92]

You are completely insane if you think that would be chaper than contracting it out.

-I guess General Lee must have a younger sibling-that would certainly explain some genetic improbabilities.

I understand your nervousness, thats why i left the regionals. Good luck :nuts:

 

[eaglesview]

Your all missing the point. Delta is looking for regionals that have pilots that keep their clothes on. Or failing that can at least find them when they are "finished."

 

[JoeMerchant]

maybe they are making room in ATL for some diesel 9's

ALPA's own analysis showed that the NWA DC9s have a higher seat cost than the 50 seat RJs....That comes from ALPA EF&A.....If you don't have it I can send it to you....

The DC9s are the most expensive aircraft in the combined DAL/NWA fleet.....

 

[Superpilot92]

ALPA's own analysis showed that the NWA DC9s have a higher seat cost than the 50 seat RJs....That comes from ALPA EF&A.....If you don't have it I can send it to you....

The DC9s are the most expensive aircraft in the combined DAL/NWA fleet.....

Thanks captain obvious, i wasnt comparing the 9 to other mainline aircraft i was saying they might replace some regional feed, which is good.

The dc9-50 carries 2 1/2 times what a single 50 seater does. DAL, pretty much like all of the majors, want to reduce the number of 50 seaters. 2.5 crj200s arent cheaper to operate than 1 DC9. We shall see how it all unfolds though. One that note, good luck at ASA and by the way your constant alpa bashing is lame.

 

[Occam's Razor]

ALPA's own analysis showed that the NWA DC9s have a higher seat cost than the 50 seat RJs....That comes from ALPA EF&A.....

Um...wrong.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Um, no he isn't based on the charts. But, usually you don't post without a factual basis, so you have me wondering.

Someone else re-ran the ALPA's EFA numbers with data double checked from Aviation Daily. The numbers were nearly identical, but did support you (Occam) on the smaller RJ's. The large RJ's beat the DC9's by a cas mile

CASM (inclusive of ACMI)
DC9-30=11.1
DC9-40=9.5
DC9-50=8.8

Next highest:
CRJ200=10.0
CRJ700=7.9
CRJ900(76seats)=7.3

 

[Superpilot92]

Um, no he isn't based on the charts. But, usually you don't post without a factual basis, so you have me wondering.

Someone else re-ran the ALPA's EFA numbers with data double checked from Aviation Daily. The numbers were nearly identical, but did support you (Occam) on the smaller RJ's. The large RJ's beat the DC9's by a cas mile

CASM (inclusive of ACMI)
DC9-30=11.1
DC9-40=9.5
DC9-50=8.8

Next highest:
CRJ200=10.0
CRJ700=7.9
CRJ900(76seats)=7.3

The numbers mean one thing but the aircraft usage means another. There are some routes that work for some and not for others regardless of the numbers. Either way the DC9 will have its role in the new DAL as a filler for the 100+ seat market. The DC9 works good and lasts a long time

 

[~~~^~~~]

True, but you can't make that case in the DC9 / RJ comparison. The DC9's average stage length is almost the same as the RJ's.

If they want to cut capacity by 10%, a CRJ900 very nearly fits the bill. The A319 and 737 pick up at 125 to 135 seats.

ACL65 directed me to an article in AW&ST which pointed out that a 737/DC9 replacement will not be on the market for at least another ten years.

You and I agree on the important point - that scope has to be written in such a way to protect this flying, regardless of what airframe it is operated with.