Abex

[ASH]

Whats the latest on them? Is it a good ol boys network to get in, what kind of exp do they look for. Hiring plans over next year or so? What background do they look for?
Thanks

 

[Steve]

Last I heard they still have folks on Furlough and that there isn't any hiring going on for the future. A buddy I have there told me things aren't looking good.

 

[UPSer]

They still have 30 on furlough, plus management pilots have been directed to fly more line trips, probably so they don't have to recall anyone.

 

[WrightAvia]

My partner I fly with, just told me his brother (a captain with fedex) said that they are seriously going to replace 3 crew 727 flying with 2 pilot crew airplanes at fedex. Leaving a long period of no hiring at fedex.

I think freight is doing ok...but I think things are going to remain tight at the big freight haulers.

I know this doesn't have much to do with ABX... but to tell you the truth, I heard they other night from some MKE rampies, ABX was going to move out of MKE and fedex is probably going to suck up their ramp space for the DC-10 that is going to be coming in instead of some other smaller plane or in addition to their normal flights.

 

[Steve]

Dosen't ABX operate the DC-9 which is a 2 pilot crew?

 

[WrightAvia]

Dosen't ABX operate the DC-9 which is a 2 pilot crew?

You guessed right.

 

[Icywings2]

I don't know where you are getting this info on ABX. They are very strong right now. In fact, they just got a new contract and were bought by DHL. ABX is going to be no longer guys!!!! It will be DHL. They are in a very strange time and will be over the next 6 months, but then things will iron out and ABX as an airline will be DHL. HOwever, for marketing it will be ABX on the ground. go to the DHL or ABX web site to read more. ENJOY!

 

[UPSer]

ABX was NOT bought by DHL.

 

[Buckeye]

ABEX / DHL Deal for Dummies

Pretend that there are two different companies, one is Airborne Express and the other is ABEX Air Inc. Airborne Express Inc is the company that owns the airport the vans that deliver the freight and the buildings...etc...etc...etc. Then there is this other company called ABEX Air Inc they have the actual 121 certificate the aircraft and the pilots. DHL bought Airborne Express the non airline side, what we might call the logistics side. Now ABEX the airline side is looking at to enter an ACMI agreement with DHL under a 10 year cost plus deal. It must be a good deal because I believe that once the teamsters and the pilots figured it out they were all on board with the idea. So Pretend time is over, this is the reality of the situation....So please stay tuned as bigger and better things are happening at ABEX Air Inc.

 

[LR25]

ABX is still ABX, they will be contracted to DHL for lift.

"Airborne Express" is the one that is no longer.

Two different deals. In about a year we will see if it will be good or bad for ABX.

 

[LR25]

Re: Van Ride...

I did read where ASTAR cargo recently purcharsed 10 727's for immediate cargo conversion - to add to their 40 a/c. I believe the DC-9 "front door" way of loading containers will lead to ABX's failure IF they refuse to convert the inefficent loading system the currenty operate under to a "normal" cargo door with BIG containers....



I doubt it. ABX only has a handfull of freighters. We have over a hundred A/C. Someone will have to dish out millions for other A/C if they do not use ABX for the lift.

I'm not saying its not an impossible venture, but why would someone do that when there is perfectly good lift allready in place.

At this time, I think DHL "Astar" needs us, as much as we need them.

I could be wrong though, they could send all the Douglas's to the desert, but I doubt it, and all the 67's ABX has would also be useless, except for making beer cans.

 

[abexpilot]

I would like to clarify a few things on this thread. To begin with ABX Air is now an independent ACMI carrier since it was spun off as a result of DHL's purchase of Airborne Freight. Astar (formerly DHL Airways) is essentially the same type of company. ABX doesn't contract with Astar, our major customer now is DHL. DHL, ABX and Astar are three separate companies. We must be separate (i.e. not owned by DHL) because federal law prohibits a foreign owned company from owning more than 25% of a U.S. domestic airline.

With that being said, I'll give my own opinion as to what the future holds. For the most part, the pilots at ABX are optimistic about the future of the company. Yes, there is some worry about the pending lawsuit that the Astar pilots (ALPA) have with DHL. They are basically claiming that all of the freight brought to the table by Airborne Freight is now their's to haul. Obviously we disagree. If their suit is successful, the net result would be that the 750 or so pilots at ABX would lose their jobs. Based on the information that our union and the company has provided, I personally feel that their suit will fail. Should that be the case, I think that they will then be in a rather precarious postion for these reasons:

1) They just sued their primary customer.
2) Astar's costs are higher that ABX's on a per shipment basis. Their contract with DHL is on a cost plus basis which is about 5.5% higher than that of the ABX contract with DHL.
3) The ABX network is much larger and system capacity is much greater.
4) The performance rating for Abx is consistently around 97% as compared to Astar's rating of around 84%.
5) ABX is a Cat II airline with the 767's being Cat III capable. Astar is a Cat I airline. This difference can be crutial to dispatch reliability.

I think the Astar's union should have explored other options in the name of cooperation with ABX rather than try to put it out of business. With the marketing that DHL has begun and has promised to continue, I think that there would have been enough growth to go around. Instead, they have chosen to swing for the fence. Time will tell.

 

[Bitter]

Any

 

[AV8OR]

Mailman wrote...

"I hope they can make this "evolution" before DHL/ASTAR cargo scews them over......like the 2,900 U.S. truck drivers DHL recently fired......"

As an ASTAR pilot, let me just respond to this on two points...

1. Yes the DHL drivers took a royal screwing from DHLWE and DPWN. We don't intend on getting the same treatment.

2. ASTAR isn't trying to screw ABX pilots out of anything. We do, however have a thing called a contract that DHLWE, that's the ground company, signed with us that specifically makes them beholden to our scope clause. Now, I'm sorry if the management of ABF and DHLWE/DP blew sunshine up your ass about how great things would be on your latest contract, but just understand this, our scope clause with DHLWE exsisted before your contract did with DHL, so, I think we are just enforcing our contract.


Abexpilot wrote......

"1) They just sued their primary customer.
2) Astar's costs are higher that ABX's on a per shipment basis. Their contract with DHL is on a cost plus basis which is about 5.5% higher than that of the ABX contract with DHL.
3) The ABX network is much larger and system capacity is much greater.
4) The performance rating for Abx is consistently around 97% as compared to Astar's rating of around 84%.
5) ABX is a Cat II airline with the 767's being Cat III capable. Astar is a Cat I airline. This difference can be crutial to dispatch reliability."

Point (1).....You need to understand that John Fellows at DHL is a lying sorry sack who knowingly violated our scope once with the NWA cargo route they fly and he got caught and was given grace by the arbitrator. He doesn't give a tinker's **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** about ASTAR ABX or anybody else, and if we lose our scope clause lawsuit, ASTAR will be the least of ALL our worries because you will see Kitty Hawk, Express One, et al, on DHL ramps. Also, I don't know what ANX management has told you but the basis upon which ABX management's countersuit rests, if won, would invalidate every ALPA contract at every ALPA airline. Possible but not likely.

#2. I guarantee you with your new contract and the cost of running your own airport, your costs are higher.

#4. 84%? What, did Joe tell yall that. Uh ya might want to check into that it's around 98.5%.

#5. Cat II vs. Cat I....so how come more airlines are going away from CAT II not towards it?


Look guys if things go south for either airline it's gonna be because DHLWE screwed us and no other reason. Our CEO, John Dasburgh testified at the DOT that he wanted and tried to buy you guys when DHL bought the ground side but DHLWE would not allow it. Now why do you think that is? So they could screw us all by playing us off one another. Does the name Emery ring a bell? When the smoke clears we'll just have to see who's standing.

 

[Meat n the Seat]

Gentleman, Deutche Post wants to whipsaw us against one another. Its simple. Eventually, the pilot groups will come together . The mood at Astar is one of cautious optimism. Many of us have worked here at DHL approaching 20 years. Yes we have a scope clause covering domestic DHL frieight, Our attepts at dialouge with DP to work a ammenable agreement went unanswered, as did our attepts at communication with thr IBT pilot leadership at ABX. Relax we'll work it out fellas. 84%??? surely you jest. We need each other. Lets hug. Forget all about this funky s**t and learn how to play guitar.