Rumors Fly Over Fate of Midwest Planes

[fckncrzy]

http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/38683352.html

By Elizabeth Braun


Story Created: Jan 30, 2009
Story Updated: Jan 30, 2009

It could be the end of Midwest Airline's 'signature seating.' An airline industry journal is reporting Mexicana Airlines wants the remainder of Midwest's 717 airplanes, the ones with wide leather seats, and is working to get them. Midwest Airlines Spokesman Mike Brophy dismisses the reports.
"Sometimes this happens in the airline industry," says Brophy, "You've got a lot of rumor and speculation swirling around, especially when there are a lot of planes on the ground."
The Midwest Pilots' Union is working to find out how far the deal, if there is one, has gone. The union's Jerome Schnedorf believes there's more to this than just rumor.
"It's not anything that we can control, so we focus on what we can control and go forward with it."
Midwest returned 16 of the planes last fall to save money.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Are they saying they want the ones turned in? or are they saying they want the ones you guys are still flying?

 

[Donsa320]

Are they saying they want the ones turned in? or are they saying they want the ones you guys are still flying?

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal paper says Mexicana wants all 25. 16 in the desert and 9 on the line. The bread line will grow longer now to include the entire roster of pilots if this true.

 

[ultrarunner]

Is the MEC still on property, or did they all get furloughed?

 

[Donsa320]

Is the MEC still on property, or did they all get furloughed?

If you mean are the original MEC members still there, no. They are all furloughed. They have been replaced by currently still employed people. I understand that the original MEC chairman has been retained, and paid, by ALPA as a consultant.

 

[CitationLover]

If you mean are the original MEC members still there, no. They are all furloughed. They have been replaced by currently still employed people. I understand that the original MEC chairman has been retained, and paid, by ALPA as a consultant.

all 3 were retained.....it is a bone of contention among some.....

 

[ultrarunner]

Furloughed but retained by ALPA? Is ALPA picking up their salaries?

Something like that might be better than having to bring a new MEC up to speed....unless the three aren't worth a crapola anyway....

 

[CitationLover]

Furloughed but retained by ALPA? Is ALPA picking up their salaries?

Something like that might be better than having to bring a new MEC up to speed....unless the three aren't worth a crapola anyway....

$400 / day is the number I heard. Do not know if that is accurate or not.

 

[hockeypilot44]

$400 / day is the number I heard. Do not know if that is accurate or not.

Is that five days a week? That comes out to $2000/week or over $100k/year. Why is ALPA paying them this much? What experience could they possibly bring? How to support lawyers writing a contract with no scope at all?

 

[ultrarunner]

And you can bet your behind those three guys are "working" all five days on this little project. What a great gig! They'd be smart to make it last....

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

I wonder if "Chip" will be furloughed?

 

[CitationLover]

Chip is part of TH's "profitable" $115 oil strategy he bragged about.........

 

[deadstick]

EVERYBODY knows that Timmy and Chip have a special relationship.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/3S8XzXAuNrWAUcgjntSPKMxW

A rumor was started yesterday about RAH's 170s departing in April. Can anybody contribute?

 

[GOULET!]

I haven't heard that one yet but I what I do hear and see is the load factors the last few months have been HORRIBLE. I realize its a slow time of year and most airlines are down on load factor right now but Midwest/Skywest/Republic have been very low. AirTran's new cities today from MKE will further drive the nail in the coffin.

 

[russtgol]

EVERYBODY knows that Timmy and Chip have a special relationship.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/3S8XzXAuNrWAUcgjntSPKMxW

A rumor was started yesterday about RAH's 170s departing in April. Can anybody contribute?

Yeah they just fired everybody working on the 170 certification. Somethings up..

 

[FlyWolf]

I heard that too.

 

[ATLboeing]

Wouldn't it be something to see Americans having to cross the border into Mexico to get a job?
Truly sad. I'm terribly sorry guys.
Thanks for always treating me well when I needed a ride. YOU, the employees, ran a great airline. Hope your management team rots in hell.

 

[maxblast72]

Hope your management team rots in hell.

You talking about the same management team that the Midwest MEC couldn't wait to just stand behind 18 months ago?

 

[hockeypilot44]

You talking about the same management team that the Midwest MEC couldn't wait to just stand behind 18 months ago?

STFU. Just throw salt in the wound why don't you? They made a mistake and paid for it dearly. Now some pilots that were making $150 dollars/hour are out of work with no jobs anywhere. They could go to Compass and fly an aircraft just a little bit smaller for $23/hour. Midwest was a once proud airline with proud employees. Two years ago it was a proud airline. I truly am sorry to the Midwest pilots. I am ashamed of what our country has become from the top down.

 

[maxblast72]

I am sorry I don't feel any sympathy for your $150/hr Captains that are losing their job. They chose to side with Timmy H. instead of Joe L. For as bad as Joe and crew might have been over the years with employee moral, they did a pretty good job growing into a 140 airplane airline right in Delta's backyard. Timmy H. on the other hand couldn't build an airline in MKE with no competition. I listened to several MEH earning conference calls and that guy was a complete idiot. Timmy H. was already starting to downsize all your flying to RJs two years ago but your MEC didn't care because it didn't affect them then. Now all of a sudden, the senior MEC guys are being affected and everyone should care, give me break.

I feel more for the FOs I fly with that are stuck at $60-70/hr and might be for another 3-5 years until we start getting deliveries again. Good news is all FOs are being recalled and some of the guys that were downgraded are being reupgraded as we increase the utilization rate on our current fleet.