Airtran Hiring news?

[maxblast72]

Since no one seems to want to answer your question, I will take a shot. Right now it looks like a lot of 717 guys are bidding into the 48 737 vacancies for the MKE base. Best guess would be a majority of new hires would be on the 717.

The current vacancy notice has 20 ATL 737 FO vacancies of which only 1 is taken on the mock bid. It apprears 19 ATL 737 FO vacancies will go to recalls/poolies. The company also stated they had a right to do a secondary bid to backfill positions that open due to this bid. Under that logic, it appears there would be some future 717 FO vacancies to backfill the 717 FOs heading to 737 MKE FO, 717 ATL CA, and 737 ATL CA.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

It apparently was NEVER open for new applications. It was open for a brief time for for poolies to update information online. A couple applications made it in but they will be discarded. The official hiring window has NOT been opened.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

So what are you saying, Airtran has good management since Airtran has tripled in size over the last 10 years while airlines like ATA, Indepedence, Skybus, National, and the real Midwest have gone out of business due to bad management.

We're an anomoly, we're successful inspite of ourselves. Often we're snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (both the Company and the Union).

 

[XRMEFLYER]

So what are you saying, Airtran has good management since Airtran has tripled in size over the last 10 years while airlines like ATA, Indepedence, Skybus, National, and the real Midwest have gone out of business due to bad management.

"Best Management Team in the industry" Just ask them, they'll tell you. Also watch how they enrich themselves after the 4th quarter's results are released. Clearly our record year will have been a result of their heroic efforts and they will not hesitate to pay themselves handsomely for their great work.

STRIKE VOTE NOW!

 

[maxblast72]

"Best Management Team in the industry" Just ask them, they'll tell you. Also watch how they enrich themselves after the 4th quarter's results are released. Clearly our record year will have been a result of their heroic efforts and they will not hesitate to pay themselves handsomely for their great work.

STRIKE VOTE NOW!

Isn't higher management bonuses for Airtran's 2009 record financial performance a good thing for the pilots at the negotiating table? Kind of hard for the company to convince the mediator that Airtran can only afford a cost neutral contract when handing out big bonuses. Sooner or later you would think the mediator would tell the company to bring a serious cost increasing offer to the table or he is going to grant the Airtran pilots the release they are seeking.

Also, lets hope management's 2009 bonus includes a large chunk of AAI stock that vests in the future. That gives management more incentive not to see this place tank.

 

[Whine Lover]

Please keep in mind that the pilot wages at both DHL and ATA had NOTHING whatsoever to do with the collapse of those two companies. Pilot wages are a drop in the bucket compared to overall operations.

However, bad management is not and that is what ultimately killed those two companies.

Ah...someone with intelligence.

Very refreshing on this board.

------------------------------------------------------------------------


TWA also doesn't exist, nor Eastern, nor Pan Am. All were once highly respected, well paid pilot groups at one time....Destined to become extinct due to poor management.

My point remains the same:

- In certain economic environments, with appropriate expectations and negotiation, large percentage gains can be made in compensation.


To the naysayers with your negative comments indicating that you don't believe in yourselves or your companies ability to pay you appropriately...You are management's dream.

And, you know they read these boards...With every comment you make indicating your low expectations you help undermine your entire pilot group, your negotiators, and this once great profession.



YKMKR

 

[Whine Lover]

On another note, yes, Airtran is extremely well managed.

Although they may suck as an employer, they do know how to run an airline.

Example:

1998 (I believe)

ATA -Total Revenues approx. $985 million / Profit of approx. $6 million.

Airtran - Total Revenues approx. $475 million / Profit of approx. $40 million.


With double the revenues ATA could only make a fraction of the profit that Airtran did. And it was that way for ten years until ATA went out of business...

Another interesting fact...in the above example ATA had been in business almost 25 years, Airtran only 5.

Good management, piss-poor management.

That's all survival of an airline comes down to in the long run.

It has nothing to do with your piddly wages as a pilot....But management just loves those who seem to think so.

YKMKR

 

[XRMEFLYER]

Isn't higher management bonuses for Airtran's 2009 record financial performance a good thing for the pilots at the negotiating table? Kind of hard for the company to convince the mediator that Airtran can only afford a cost neutral contract when handing out big bonuses. Sooner or later you would think the mediator would tell the company to bring a serious cost increasing offer to the table or he is going to grant the Airtran pilots the release they are seeking.

Also, lets hope management's 2009 bonus includes a large chunk of AAI stock that vests in the future. That gives management more incentive not to see this place tank.

"sooner or later" perhaps.

Later is no longer an option!

 

[DonVerita]

On another note, yes, Airtran is extremely well managed.

Although they may suck as an employer, they do know how to run an airline.
YKMKR

Running an airline? I'd have to disagree with you on that one W.L.

Is AirTran management good at negotiating deals with Boeing and Engine manufacturers? Yes, without a doubt. Are they good at squeezing their suppliers? Yes, but at a cost to the overall quality of the operation.

Is AirTran management good at running a HIGH QUALITY product? Absolutely not! Their ability to step over a dollar to save a dime and their penchant for doing everything, and I mean EVERYTHING half-a$$ed is legendary.

Is AirTran management good at treating employees with dignity, respect, fairly, good QOL, and with compensation (both monetary and otherwise) that reflects the employee's efforts to make AirTran the profitable company that it is today? Not even in the ballpark!

And that is why the only way to effect a true paradigm shift at this company is with a full on STRIKE.

FUPM or STMFD!!

 

[Whine Lover]

"..they do know how to run an airline."

Well, perhaps the above statement is a bit generous.

I probably should have said something to the effect of:

" In spite of their many shortcomings, at least they know how to make enough money to survive and/or prosper. "

Which, in and of itself, is a pretty mean feat in the environment of the last decade or so.




YKMKR

 

[b82rez]

An email that was just sent out to YX furloughs

Hello Midwest Pilots

Thank you so much for your interest in our First Officer position with AirTran Airways! The response has been overwhelming, hence the reason I am contacting you versus Stephanie Grantham. She sends her apologies but wanted me to get back with you so that you are not waiting on her in suspense!

Yes, the First Officer position was posted on Friday evening and was taken down on Sunday evening. We did this so that the pilots who are scheduled for our February class could update their application. If you applied, then yes, your information is documented and will remain in the system.

We will post the First Officer position again in the near future because we will have a March class and those pilots too, will need to update their information in the system. After the March class, there are no other classes scheduled (as of now…).

We are encouraged with our February and March new hire classes and hope that will be a jump start to future classes. When the pilot hiring window begins, you can be sure that the position will be posted a lot longer than a weekend! Also, if you are in contact with a AirTran Airways line pilot, the Chief Pilot’s Office will send an announcement to all line pilots so that they too can inform you that our pilot hiring window is open.

I hope that clears up any confusion out there. Again, we appreciate your interest in AirTran Airways and look forward to future pilot opportunities.

 

[JerryLundegaard]

"...hence the reason I am contacting you versus Stephanie Grantham..."

Who was that from?

 

[Clyde Frog]

Although they may suck as an employer, they do know how to run an airline.

Example:

1998 (I believe)

ATA -Total Revenues approx. $985 million / Profit of approx. $6 million.

Airtran - Total Revenues approx. $475 million / Profit of approx. $40 million.

YKMKR

In 1998 Joe Coor was running the show at AT and there was no Kolski/Fornaro. I think Joe Leonard came in late that year.

What I'm getting at is that it was a different management team back then.

 

[maxblast72]

In 1998 Joe Coor was running the show at AT and there was no Kolski/Fornaro. I think Joe Leonard came in late that year.

What I'm getting at is that it was a different management team back then.

Ask any Airtran guy that was around in 1998, I believe they will tell you Joe Leonard put the airline on solid footing after Joe Coor almost ran them into the ground. You have to have a profitable airline to get a good contract.

 

[DonVerita]

You have to have a profitable airline to get a good contract.

Good thing we are!

Now show me the money.