Alaska projects Seattle growth...

[Rhino]

http://www.alaskasworld.com/NEWS/2005/03/22_fa_recruit.asp

"In addition to hiring Spanish-speaking flight attendants for the Los Angeles base, Alaska is hiring for projected growth in Seattle. Classes will be held in April, June, July and August. Flight attendant training lasts six weeks and is unpaid."

Hmmmmm...maybe if they need more FAs in Seattle, they may project the future need for more pilots as well? At least pilot training isn't "unpaid"!

 

[flx757]

I sure wouldn't tie those two together. They held numerous flight attendant classes last year of 50 in each, and we all know how many pilot classes there were.

However, I do think that things will begin to pick up at some point this year.

 

[SneakyJake]

I just finished new hire training on the -200. Very happy to be done after almost three months. By far the nicest group of people I have ever worked with. Good luck to all waiting for a class, it's worth the wait.

 

[alaskaplt]

I just finished new hire training on the -200. Very happy to be done after almost three months.

Just in time for a pay cut!

But seriously, congratulations.

 

[mach none]

SneakyJake,

Welcome aboard finally. It sure beats the past doesn't it?!!!

 

[lumax]

Not good news for Alaska wanabes but here is the latest from the C.P.:
"We have no plans to hire pilots for the rest of the year".
As it has been stated on this board before, the pilot hiring plans might and hopefully will change as soon as the contract is all settled.

 

[Kool]

I talked to an assistant to Capt Majer and was told interviews would likely start up again late summer/early fall. They are still training out of the poolies.

 

[AK737FO]

Hire or shrink

If the arbitrator were to give Mr. Ayer his "vision" by allowing management to get all of their 43 items (that was only suppose to be 5), I predict that this airline would explode into a growth mode like none have ever seen. Employee funded of course...

If Mr. arbitrator splits the baby in half (as most think he will), we should see slow, but steady growth and a return to the black - o wait a sec, we are already there...

Management can only run a ship so lean for so long. I know our SEA and LAX guys are enjoying getting rich off VSA before the pay cuts, but you can't run an airline on VSA forever. Look at the retirement numbers in 06, 07 and 08. They will hire several hundred in the next two years, or they will shrink this airline drasticallly. There are no other options, everything else is just political posturing.

 

[flx757]

On all three of the last points, I can agree based on what I see and hear by living in the Flt Ops bldg (although for the last 10 days I've been on vacation...and we all know that a lot can change in this business in 10 days.)

At the last recurrent I attended (I always go as a "spectator" during the FODO brief and/or the Fleet Captain brief, just to get the "latest"), and the "official" company line is no more hiring "for now". However, every single one of them will tell you this is only until they know for sure what they have to work with in the contract. They want a known quantity before they make additional moves.

However, even with zero growth, which I do not think is the plan, nor has anyone even alluded to this as the plan, there are 30-something scheduled for retirement the remainder of this year...not including any who elect for an early out, 60 next year and 70 the year after. The company is already understaffed, with May being critically severe. The summer should be hodling steady at about the same level as May, then better after August, according to those in the know...specifically the MD-80 Fleet Captain. Even if hiring was to begin again today, it woudn't do much to alleviate that shortage in the near term.

Finally, just before going on vacation, I wanted to recommend someone and had the Director of Training take this pilot's resume around to the Chief Pilot, the HR recruiter and her supervisor. They asked that I send a copy via email so they could attach this recommedation to the pilot's electronic file. I then talked in person to the HR rep, and was told they probably would begin interviews again sometime this fall.

Now, this is all just speculation, rumors, my best guess and reports of what I am hearing. What will actually happen remains to be seen. But one thing I'm pretty sure of is that nothing will happen until the contract is settled, but when it is there will definitely be something happening. We are gearing up for that scenario in the training dept, although they seem far more interested in getting things ready for 2006 than they are for anything more immediate.

 

[Delville]

I had heard that the arbitration for the pilot contract had wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. According to the rumor, all that remained to be done was to wrap up the paperwork, finalize everything, and announce the results. Apparently I heard a bad rumor?

 

[Singlecoil]

I had heard that the arbitration for the pilot contract had wrapped up a couple of weeks ago. According to the rumor, all that remained to be done was to wrap up the paperwork, finalize everything, and announce the results. Apparently I heard a bad rumor?

That sounds about right, but I would emphasize the "announce the results" part. Nobody has a clue what the arbitrator is going to do until he announces his decision. We don't know what we'll get paid, the company doesn't know what their costs will be, etc. I can understand them saying that all hiring is on hold for now. They also want to create the impression that they are willing to shrink the company if they don't get what they want from the arbitrator. Then they will come to the pilots and say, "Give us another 5% or the furlough notices go out tomorrow." Its all a matter of role playing and following our respective scripts at this point.

 

[AK737FO]

rumors, rumors...

Out on the line I keep hearing the same rumor over and over. It is a good rumor, so why not put it out on the board.

After the contract is done, and the company has it's pound of flesh (well... lets hope it is only a half a pound), the plan is to hire 20 a month till it gets frosty in a very hot place. Look for future aircraft announcements as well. Here ends the rumor.

FLX757, have you heard anything about the 400 combi? It has been tomb silent up here for a looooonnnnggg time. Our 200's are already off the books, they are being rode hard and put away wet each day, and no replacement in sight.

If we loose the "combi" aircraft then I vote for taking the Eskimo off the tail, painting on a steaming cup of joe in it's place, and changing our name to "Latte Air", - Seattle's home grown airline.

 

[mach none]

"Give us another 5% or the furlough notices go out tomorrow." Its all a matter of role playing and following our respective scripts at this point.

They have been shrinking the airline already. We have had no appreciable hiring and we have been retiring people and giving flying over to Horizon. Management blew it over a year ago with their hardline stance and no good faith bargaining.

 

[flx757]

FLX757, have you heard anything about the 400 combi? It has been tomb silent up here for a looooonnnnggg time. Our 200's are already off the books, they are being rode hard and put away wet each day, and no replacement in sight.

It's been very quiet on that subject around here, as well. All I can tell you is what I heard at the last IP meeting. Apparently the vendor that they have finally settled on is trying to get its "ducks in a row". Trying to assure that they can get approvals on all the modifications. Evidently, they have experience converting -400s to all cargo versions, but never a combi. So before they actually begin work, etc...they want to ensure that what they will do will meet with approval.

Or so that's the last I heard about it...WHEN any of this is actually going to happen is anyone's guess. Maybe they have the big picture up on the 3rd floor. (For those unfamiliar...the Flt Ops Bldg has only 2 stories...)

 

[dkwid]

They have been shrinking the airline already. We have had no appreciable hiring and we have been retiring people and giving flying over to Horizon. Management blew it over a year ago with their hardline stance and no good faith bargaining.

Where has Alaska shrunk. All the capacity that Alaska moved to Horizon (which was very little was absorbed with new Alaska routes, the new PHX and LAS service as an example. Horizon has had a lot of seat growth (more 400's) but absolutely no fleet growth where as Alaska has increased its fleet size.

 

[SneakyJake]

Even more interesting is I'm looking someone in ANC who needs someone to bait hooks and pack furry critters. I will be on reserve up here for quite some time. Will bring my own pack.

 

[mach none]

Where has Alaska shrunk. All the capacity that Alaska moved to Horizon (which was very little was absorbed with new Alaska routes, the new PHX and LAS service as an example. Horizon has had a lot of seat growth (more 400's) but absolutely no fleet growth where as Alaska has increased its fleet size.

Look no further than PDX. You fly on Horizon to the bay area (SFO, SJC, OAK) SMF, LAX to RNO. These are the city pairs that come to mind. We are closing the PDX FA base because we are turning that flying over to QX. This is flying that we have traditionally done and should still be doing, AND adding new routes.

What would you do as a consumer if you had a choice between SWA and a Q400. I know what I would do.

AS has added very few a/c. Most of our capacity increase this year is coming by adding seats to our 737 fleet. In fact, I think we have 2 less a/c than last year ( parking MD80s). I am not going to check this right now because I am typing one handed & holding my one yr. old son.

The simple fact is. We have retired more pilots over the last 3 years than we have hired. All the while screaming everyday they need VSA in all aircraft seats to cover the schedule. That is shrinking the airline and the pilot group. So if they play the furlough card, I will laugh. And yes, I would most likely be one of the ones furoughed.

 

[alaskaplt]

Where has Alaska shrunk. All the capacity that Alaska moved to Horizon (which was very little was absorbed with new Alaska routes, the new PHX and LAS service as an example. Horizon has had a lot of seat growth (more 400's) but absolutely no fleet growth where as Alaska has increased its fleet size.

In the past 2 years they have trained 18 newhires. I don't have the exact numbers in fron of me, but I have moved up a lot more than 18 numbers in that time from retirements. If it wasn't for the VSA people they would have had to hire a significant number of people.

 

[dkwid]

In the past 2 years they have trained 18 newhires. I don't have the exact numbers in fron of me, but I have moved up a lot more than 18 numbers in that time from retirements. If it wasn't for the VSA people they would have had to hire a significant number of people.

I don't disagree at all with employee numbers. The unfortunate reality of the airline industry is just this. Less employees doing more work and in many cases for less pay. Obviously you will find few pilots who find this any good in that statement and I am absolutely whole heartedly disapointed in the direction of this career. It's clear, in my opinion, that the healthier airlines are doing all they can to protect themselves form the leniency of the courts that are ruling over a couple huge corporations that have been flaundering under bankrupcy protection for far too long. This, once again, in my opinion is defies the laws of capitalism and allows those with the most access to government to make the rules in favor of themselves and creates an industry that can not survive becouse costs will always exceed incomes. Survival is no longer based upon performance but instead preference and ability to renegotiate and forgiveness of debts......so the companies that pay their bills get screwed!!

I was noting "Growth" as in terms of passengers caried, miles flown, tickets sold, that kind of thing. Which both Alaska and Horizon have been meeting this criteria....of course in a very conservative sense. Horizon also is utilizing less pilots to accomplish their growth in ASM's...which is disapointing but a whole different subject.

 

[mach none]

It is going to be interesting to see what the arbitrator presents for scope. That was the only item that Billy Ayer attended. That tells me something right there.