Is Delta Parking Mainline Airplanes?

[skywdriver]

I was very surprised to read this in an article about the 787 orders from the airshow.

"On its earnings conference call Monday, Delta(DAL) said it will reduce its fleet by 91 aircraft in 2010 and by 20 more in 2011. CEO Richard Anderson made it clear the carrier has no immediate interest in new airplanes."

I hope this is referring to regional airplanes. I read through the 10Q and it mentioned some 737-800's that were going to be sold immediately after they were delivered to a third party.

You guys are supposed to be hiring 300 pilots, I am just confused here. Can anyone shed any light on this?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

There will be some parked but what they are saying is most of them are RJ's.

Also DC-9 30/40's will not be parked until 2011 now so those are included in the figure.

 

[skywdriver]

any idea what is driving the hiring?

 

[jonjuan]

any idea what is driving the hiring?

The need for more pilots.

 

[skywdriver]

The need for more pilots.

Parking off even a few mainline airplanes doesn't equal the need for more pilots. So why the need for more pilots? Better utilization of airplanes?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Well considering that the average utilization per jet for DAL has been in the 9 hr per day range and they are going to bump that to 11-13 hrs per day, you do the math. Add to it the need for more augmented crews.

 

[cpberry1]

The need for more pilots.

Good stuff!

 

[skywdriver]

Well considering that the average utilization per jet for DAL has been in the 9 hr per day range and they are going to bump that to 11-13 hrs per day, you do the math. Add to it the need for more augmented crews.

Good news for you guys, hope the idea of more flying hours is contagious.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

DAL as a whole will be flat to a 2% YOY increase in ASM's, it is just who is going to fly em.

 

[FLYLOW22]

There will be some parked but what they are saying is most of them are RJ's.

Delta was the 1st to make the Scope mistake in the 90's with RJs, then called SJs. Maybe this is the beginning of brining back more mainline jets.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Time will tell. Go listen to the Investor Call. Listen to all of RA's comments.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

A330 guys are operating all on overtime.....due to increased utilization.

the 737 deals were old news.......all the 737's we got in the last 3 years were orders FORCED on Delta that were placed for original delivery between March 2002 and Sept. 2005. I think 30 or so that we placed orders for in 1999 and 2000 were sold off the minute we took delivery and in fact they were painted like the company who bought em first.

 

[DYLIN]

ACL said it best months ago.

"The company got drunk on RJs and the hangover is killing them."

 

[bluefin]

ACL said it best months ago.

"The company got drunk on RJs and the hangover is killing them."

I hope UAL gets "TOO DRUNK" and starts feeling the "HANGOVER" sooner rather than later!!!!

 

[ACL65PILOT]

ACL said it best months ago.

"The company got drunk on RJs and the hangover is killing them."

Well it is true. DAL has around 700 RJ's and cannot get rid of them fast enough.

 

[jonjuan]

ACL said it best months ago.

"The company got drunk on RJs and the hangover is killing them."

But, they are alcoholics and keep doing it despite the bad memories.

 

[jonjuan]

ACL said it best months ago.

"The company got drunk on RJs and the hangover is killing them."

OR, the top 2/3 of the list are alcoholics who can't kick the habit and management is the liquor store that has daily specials of buy a fifth, get a fifth free. The top pilots don't mind as they're "getting something for nothing" and management still makes money on the volume, despite slowly killing its customers.

 

[contrail67]

The need for more pilots.

Well at least someone has figured it all out...that was good.

 

[Monster Buck]

Delta was the 1st to make the Scope mistake in the 90's with RJs, then called SJs. Maybe this is the beginning of brining back more mainline jets.

Lets not forget American refusal to a one year contract extension that would have had them flying the 70 seats and dropping the sick out multi-million dollar fine. Just saying.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

When did the BAe-146 commence service under United Express?
Didn't that precede the RJ at DAL by quite a few years?

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

DAL is also buying MD-90s as fast as possible. Saw on another thread that they are in talks to buy all the Saudi planes. I think they have 28, and I also read on another thread DAL was planning on 74, so that would bring the -90 total at DAL to 102 if they COULD get the Saudi planes.

cliff
LFW

 

[FLYLOW22]

Lets not forget American refusal to a one year contract extension that would have had them flying the 70 seats and dropping the sick out multi-million dollar fine. Just saying.

Yeah, the problem is everywhere (except SWA).

Small aircraft have replaced career jobs at mainline companies for almost 20 years now. We've seen the results and they aren't pretty.

Over 1/2 the flying of XYZ or PDQ airlines is not being done by that company any longer... that fact is just sadly amazing.

 

[AnimalTale]

Yeah, the problem is everywhere (except SWA).

Small aircraft have replaced career jobs at mainline companies for almost 20 years now. We've seen the results and they aren't pretty.

Over 1/2 the flying of XYZ or PDQ airlines is not being done by that company any longer... that fact is just sadly amazing.

ACTUALLY THE MAIN PROBLEM HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SWA TOO. Back in the good old days, SWA's LOW pay rates where one of the main reasons, the legacies shifted flying to cheaper means (rjs). Although I love SWA and your pay is "good" now, DONT EVER THINK SWA had no hand in the mess that we are in! (although some of your guys are multi-millionaires for their sacrifices)

First hand experience because I was a legacy driver back in the day and I did notice LCCs' pay rates. They were not pretty at all especially SWA, F9 etc...

CYA

 

[aa73]

Lets not forget American refusal to a one year contract extension that would have had them flying the 70 seats and dropping the sick out multi-million dollar fine. Just saying.

Let's not forget that that was Carty's "empty bag" promise that he had NO intention of fulfilling, nor was he able to. Not just that, it was in exchange for "baseball-style arbitration" in future contract negotiations.

Before you spout off on what we voted for or against, know the details. Voting against that POS was the best decision the membership had made in a while.

 

[Superpilot92]

Parking off even a few mainline airplanes doesn't equal the need for more pilots. So why the need for more pilots? Better utilization of airplanes?

read below,

Hi!

DAL is also buying MD-90s as fast as possible. Saw on another thread that they are in talks to buy all the Saudi planes. I think they have 28, and I also read on another thread DAL was planning on 74, so that would bring the -90 total at DAL to 102 if they COULD get the Saudi planes.

cliff
LFW

The DC9s that are being parked are being replaced with new/used mainline aircraft. The real net loss of airframes are going to be at the regionals.

 

[BID]

ACTUALLY THE MAIN PROBLEM HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SWA TOO. Back in the good old days, SWA's LOW pay rates where one of the main reasons, the legacies shifted flying to cheaper means (rjs). Although I love SWA and your pay is "good" now, DONT EVER THINK SWA had no hand in the mess that we are in! (although some of your guys are multi-millionaires for their sacrifices)

First hand experience because I was a legacy driver back in the day and I did notice LCCs' pay rates. They were not pretty at all especially SWA, F9 etc...

CYA

that is a really good point. ... deregulation cheap tickets for all, at what cost?

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Yep, we are where we are because mainline could not compete with the LLC's, pilots wanted to keep FAE up for pensions, and now we are left with RJ's that do not get the job done, no pensions, low pay, LLC's making comparable rates to legacies, and most forgetting how we got to the a la carte mentality.