Midwest pilots think all 717s will go by next year

[General Lee]

All right General...you could snag some 717's, put in a single-class setup and run those on the shuttle and put the rest, in a two-class setup, and dump the DC-9's.

Well, I still don't know if this rumor is true or not. No confirmation. But, it is interesting, and plausible. I think the DL Shuttle has around 16 airplanes on it, and less fly on the weekends. I have read that Midwest is getting rid of 16 717s soon, and MAY get rid of the rest (they have or had 25 total) next year. If we do get some of their planes though, and we have to hire as a result, we should hire some of their pilots too I think.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[maxblast72]

Why couldn't Air Tran just buy the aircraft in the desert if it wanted to grow too? Is it purely financial (can't afford to add airplanes)?

Fornaro has made it very clear that returning to profitability and fixing the balance sheet are higher priorities than growth right now. While the company and the analysts are predicting profitability for 2009, it will take a while to get the $600-800 million cash on hand for Fornaro to feel comfortable enough to crank up the growth plan again. Latest ASM projection from management for 2009 is down 3-7% from 2008 levels.

Now if the right deal was available to acquire some 717s and we could sell some more 737s, we would probably do that to increase our cash on hand by monetizing the value of our 737s. The company is happy with the performance with either airplane according to the last earnings conference call. Obviously the 737 has more alot more demand in the worldwide aircraft market.

 

[Heavy Set]

Fornaro has made it very clear that returning to profitability and fixing the balance sheet are higher priorities than growth right now. While the company and the analysts are predicting profitability for 2009, it will take a while to get the $600-800 million cash on hand for Fornaro to feel comfortable enough to crank up the growth plan again. Latest ASM projection from management for 2009 is down 3-7% from 2008 levels.

Now if the right deal was available to acquire some 717s and we could sell some more 737s, we would probably do that to increase our cash on hand by monetizing the value of our 737s. The company is happy with the performance with either airplane according to the last earnings conference call. Obviously the 737 has more alot more demand in the worldwide aircraft market.

My Delta neighbor here in Boca told me that Delta may have purchased 4 Air Tran 737-700s. Have you heard anything like that?

 

[captain007]

This would be sad if true. Used midwest for the first time a couple of weeks ago, first class airline all the way. Crew was great, flight was great and treated real well. Good luck guys and as soon as NetJets starts hiring again, I hope to see you all over here!

 

[Gear Down]

I believe that the Midex 717's are still configured for only 88 seats. If thats the case then the transition to the E170 would make financial 'cents' for the mismanaged airline.

MidEx has their 717's configured at 99 seats, not 88. By late November, only 9 airframes will be operating. The rest of their will be contracted out...

 

[SkiFishFly]

My Delta neighbor here in Boca told me that Delta may have purchased 4 Air Tran 737-700s. Have you heard anything like that?

Surely our management wouldn't be that stupid...

(ok - they probably would these days)

 

[ACL65PILOT]

The 737-700 are for sale from AAI and yes, DAL is interested.
We will see how many we buy. That is still up in the air.

 

[CitationLover]

Well, I still don't know if this rumor is true or not. No confirmation. But, it is interesting, and plausible. I think the DL Shuttle has around 16 airplanes on it, and less fly on the weekends. I have read that Midwest is getting rid of 16 717s soon, and MAY get rid of the rest (they have or had 25 total) next year. If we do get some of their planes though, and we have to hire as a result, we should hire some of their pilots too I think.

Bye Bye--General Lee

Boeing wants the 717's to go bye bye. I doubt Delta is replacing their 80's with 717's for their shuttle. It would be a separate program (TWA and Midwest couldn't get FAA approval for DC9 universal crews) and thus would not make any economic sense to bring 16 a/c onto property with its own training dept., etc.

From what I've heard Boeing simply told Tim no to any more 717 refinancing. They have never liked the 717 program and still view it as a road block to more 737 sales.

Shall we research the Pan Am lawsuit if Delta does buy the 717's?

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I think since MWA is owned and controlled by NWA, that the MWA pilots should be incorporated into the DAL list.

cliff
YIP

 

[hockeypilot44]

Hi!

I think since MWA is owned and controlled by NWA, that the MWA pilots should be incorporated into the DAL list.

cliff
YIP

I agree, but according to DAL ALPA, they did not buy Midwest. They bought Northwest.

 

[CitationLover]

I agree, but according to DAL ALPA, they did not buy Midwest. They bought Northwest.

Semantics........

They will care when Midwest becomes a virtual airline that has a hole in DAL's scope clause.......

Lee Moak is full of shiite. Delta now owns 47% of Midwest, not NWA.

 

[crashpad]

I hope the pilots at NWA/Delta can pull some strings and help these guys. It would be a great show of fraternity in an age where the culture is to divide and conquer.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I also would like to see them thrown a life line. We should also have fought to get Compass and Mesaba on the list for reasons that benefit both sides.

There are many reasons that this just will not happen:
(1) NWA did not buy MidWest, they just kept them out of a merger with AirTran. (It is incredibly ironic that NWA probably saved AirTran. If they had merged, there is no way that they would have maintained sufficient liquidity over the summer fuel cruch.)
(2) The political water is poisoned by fear.
(3) ALPA national has lost all of its legitimacy, credibility, and power to effect change. The NWA / Delta merger has gone forward mostly without the involvement of national. If national could not wrestle the NWA MEC towards a rational joint agreement earlier this year, there is no hope they could wrestle the joint Delta / NWA MEC into a meger with a group absent the corporate transaction.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

Might I ask what you think a rational joint agreement would have been for us at NWA/DAL?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Doesn't matter now. That offer is history.

We are doing things your way and thus far, that's fine by me. That's my opinion.