Anderson to align capacity with demand

[crj567]

I know you were flaming... but there is a lot of truth to the statement.

The difference this time around is that Delta reacts much more quickly to market conditions. Delta's management is much more operationally focused and unlike Delta's old management (and United's current management) is less focused on harvard'esque case studies by 28 year old MBA's who had never been in airline ops. Now Delta is being run by 50 somethings with a lot of PIC time in the equipment.

I think Delta always has to be on guard for creeping arrogance. Yes, we are the biggest. Yes, we are well positioned, BUT we are at the mercy of each and every customer we serve. We need their business.

I think many of your points are vaild-except two:

-The first being who runs Delta now. It is good that the company dumped out many of the Harvard MBAs who came in on the Mullin gravy train. Those guys were incompetant and wasted tons of money. The only thing worse is what you now have... All the new upper mgmt is from NWA. There is no worse track record among any modern airline than the one earned by NWA mgmt (as far as mgmt-employee relations go.) These NWA guys are smart in some ways, but they are mean as hell! It may take a while to become obvious-but these are not good people-they are just waiting to screw you!

-The second point I disagree with is "creeping arrogance." The arrogance of DAL mgmt. is "creeping" about like a cheetah "creeps" after a fleeing gazelle. DAL has become the 800lb gorilla-and mgmt. has no idea what the hell is customer is about. I can tell you all about many customers who are pissed-they are very pissed about flying around in crappy old Saab 340s in the middle of the summer. They will jump on the first option that comes along. (Have you noticed how Allegiant is showing up at more and more of these places?)
*That-General Lee is what you call a first-class-ass-kicking, knocking right on your door.
-Sweat your pink butt off just once in a 135 degree Saab 340, and watch how fast you can find that AirTran or Allegiant site the next time your travel needs arise!

-I know many people in many departments at Delta-and what I hear astounds me. You should listen to these warnings. These new NWA tools are gonna wreck the place (they hijacked the board and all the important upper management positions.) The are trying hard piss off the entire customer base as well as the employees. The old Delta was once famous for great service-the new NWA is pissing on its grave.

-INTL is cratering (after a tremedous cash outlay,) and domestic is slipping more and more to SWA, Allegiant, and AirTran. Not exactly an enviable job these NWA clowns are performing so far.

 

[Superpilot92]

This message is hidden because crj567 is on your ignore list.

The best function on this forum

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I am not to sure of that. Remember that you are getting the version of a person that has been at DAL for a very long time. They are going to be peeved the way these Northerners, err Texan are run things. It is different than the way it has been done. They are not used to being told to kiss the good ole boys network in the six.

I will agree that it is a different Delta.

 

[dtfl]

Post of the Month!

-Awesome!!!

You do know you are a dick right?

ACL has been the most informed AND informative and one of if not THE most non-confrontational folks on this and AP Forums.....you on the other hand are a dick.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I've watched a few of Anderson's televised meetings and talked to many people he interacts with. Thus far, he says and does the right things. What he writes is intelligent, insightful, pragmatic and very respectful of Delta's culture.

CRJ567, passengers would like it if we flew 747-400's to Birmingham, even if it took them 45 minutes to de-plane. It just is not realistic. I was around when the Saabs and E120's replaced the Bandeirante and everyone loved them. Then folks loved the CRJ for a few years until it was no longer good enough.

Fact is the turboprops make more sense on most of these <400nm routes than the jets do. It would make sense to me to order a few new Dash 8's or ATR's for the fleet. When passengers understand a ATR burns 1/3 the gas of a CRJ-700 and gets them to their destination in larger seats with a bigger cabin and less polution, maybe they would begin to understand these are thoroughly modern and much more recent designs than the Allegiant MD82 down the ramp.

 

[701EV]

Hey Fins,

aren't you supposed to be studying?

back to the books!

701EV

 

[crj567]

You do know you are a dick right?

ACL has been the most informed AND informative and one of if not THE most non-confrontational folks on this and AP Forums.....you on the other hand are a dick.

Ohh, You GOT ME!

-Your cutting wit! Your gifted prose! Your almost Shakespearian mastery of language!!! What a beautiful masterwork of insult!
-I am a "DICK!"
-WOW!

ACL65 is only here to stroke his own ego and pretend that he has the "inside line" on this or is "in the know" on that. Sad-really, but believe what you wish.

Have you ever heard of "insider trading?" Go look it up, and you will see that about 1/2 of the things ACL claims to have knowledge of fall into this category-hence-he is full of crap.

-But I am a "DICK." I bow to your obvious mastery of the skill of the insult.

 

[crj567]

I've watched a few of Anderson's televised meetings and talked to many people he interacts with. Thus far, he says and does the right things. What he writes is intelligent, insightful, pragmatic and very respectful of Delta's culture.

CRJ567, passengers would like it if we flew 747-400's to Birmingham, even if it took them 45 minutes to de-plane. It just is not realistic. I was around when the Saabs and E120's replaced the Bandeirante and everyone loved them. Then folks loved the CRJ for a few years until it was no longer good enough.

Fact is the turboprops make more sense on most of these <400nm routes than the jets do. It would make sense to me to order a few new Dash 8's or ATR's for the fleet. When passengers understand a ATR burns 1/3 the gas of a CRJ-700 and gets them to their destination in larger seats with a bigger cabin and less polution, maybe they would begin to understand these are thoroughly modern and much more recent designs than the Allegiant MD82 down the ramp.

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!

This is my point exactly! You see, the problem I have with the Saabs is that they are apparently intended to replace the ATR... WTF, WTF, WTF??????

Saabs burn about the same fuel as an ATR or a Dash 8, yet carry 1/2 the people!! On what planet does it make sense to replace ATRs or crjs with these crappy little buckets? If the new NWA gave half a rat about passenger comfort, they would be buying something one hell of a lot nicer than a freaking 340-(Maybe even something with an APU!) Something that can carry twice the people in much better comfort, for exactly the same burn!!

-Saab 340s are just an utter disgrace with all the nice newer turboprops to choose from.

P.S.- I hope you are correct about Andersen. Time will tell. As for Steenland-we already know very well what he is-and don't forget-he is on the board. Plus-the vast majority of Steenland's upper managers at NWA have already evicted the DAL guys who had run things before the merger.

 

[johnsonrod]

You are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!

This is my point exactly! You see, the problem I have with the Saabs is that they are apparently intended to replace the ATR... WTF, WTF, WTF??????

Saabs burn about the same fuel as an ATR or a Dash 8, yet carry 1/2 the people!! On what planet does it make sense to replace ATRs or crjs with these crappy little buckets? If the new NWA gave half a rat about passenger comfort, they would be buying something one hell of a lot nicer than a freaking 340-(Maybe even something with an APU!) Something that can carry twice the people in much better comfort, for exactly the same burn!!

-Saab 340s are just an utter disgrace with all the nice newer turboprops to choose from.

P.S.- I hope you are correct about Andersen. Time will tell. As for Steenland-we already know very well what he is-and don't forget-he is on the board. Plus-the vast majority of Steenland's upper managers at NWA have already evicted the DAL guys who had run things before the merger.

Were there too many seats to Hilton Head on the ATR? That plane was too big for many of the ATL markets. The Saab allows for higher yields due to less seats total. You can fill an ATR with cheap tickets, or fill a Saab with expensive tickets. The Dash-8-400 is the same as the ATR, when it comes to smaller markets. That Dash could be used on longer, thin routes, but not short stuff to small cities.

 

[Superpilot92]

I think this might be just the beginning of several other airline announcements for Fall cuts, mine included. Before we all go throwing bombs at pilots of competing airlines, let's take a deep breath, remember why we all got into this business, and realize that any pilots out of jobs at any airline is bad for all of us. I have a lot of Delta pilot friends. I hope any cuts are short lived and that a nice early out package will take care of the staffing needs through attrition.

IAHERJ

this is probably the best post on this thread, I agree 100%

 

[fishguy79]

That is the official word.......

So we are having a displacement bid to lower widebody manning and no one is concerned about the flying we are SHIFTING to Air France/KLM. We gave JFK-CDG to Air France. I am in BOM on the EWR-AMS-BOM trip and I am hearing we are giving that KLM in the near future. Since Delta shares all the profits it is no loss for them. It is however a lot of good pilots jobs heading East

 

[jetflier]

Who told you we were merging with United? Oh wait that is your educated guess! Hey we might have some bad fuel hedges, but we have some new fuel efficient aircraft. As much as I want to fly a DC-9, we have none.

Our CEO has stated that if Delta gets stronger, they will take another look at consolidation. Is Delta getting stronger? Is Delta a threat to our NYC operation? I don't think so. BTW, although there might be many similarities between Dela and Continental, our INTL market IS different. There was a great article in the Wall Street Journal years ago about this. Our PVG flights are holding up very well, its a shame the US gov't gave this route to UAL and then Delta. We could of used it years ago.

This does not mean CAL will not decide on further capacity cuts. I hope we do not. When the business traveler comes back it will be quick and we must be ready. Tough choices.

But in the end, I hope we do not see any furloughs at Delta, I have many friends there. I also don't want to see any 70 seat RJs. ugh! Just don't be telling us that CAL is in worse shape than Delta because we are not.

As bad as JFK is at its worst,...EWR has to be the worst airport worldwide for delays. That has to have a major impact on CAL's bottom line. I can't see any way that EWR can improve its traffic flow without taking over large chunks of surrounding real estate and converting it into additional runways.
So, if DAL ramps up JFK Atlantic/Pacific flights, can CAL do the same at EWR?

 

[asadonkey]

crj567 is a very bitter fellow, who loves to trash DL or anyone on here that doesn't speak ill towards that "impending disaster" that is DL.

He is also an ASA pilot which makes him an employee for a DL subcontractor. Without this contract most likely he would not be getting a paycheck. Flame and trash DL and its employees till your blue in the face, seems kinda sad and hateful to me, but if carma doesn't get ya, remember the law of " All Sh@t flows downhill "

 

[DYLIN]

Alright FINS, good point. It would have been a more feasible flow-down for many if the pay rates would have reflected longevity. I am trying to figure out how Delta pilots that end up on the bottom half of the Compass list are going to make it worth their time to show up for work 18 days a month for 20k/year. That was NWA MEC's doing.

Actually, it's working "19 days a month." Most people can't get 18 right now (11 off is currently what 50% of lineholders get).

 

[FBN0223]

Actually, it's working "19 days a month." Most people can't get 18 right now (11 off is currently what 50% of lineholders get).

Yeah, I flew most of the Compass routes on the DC-9 including the DC-9-10, which holds only 7 more passengers than the EMB175. It was 14 days of duty per month and 105k/year in the right seat. During the BK process, 60% of us buckled with fear and gave away that flying to those willing to do the job for much less. Shame!!!

 

[N2264J]

So we are having a displacement bid to lower widebody manning and no one is concerned about the flying we are SHIFTING to Air France/KLM. We gave JFK-CDG to Air France. I am in BOM on the EWR-AMS-BOM trip and I am hearing we are giving that KLM in the near future. Since Delta shares all the profits it is no loss for them. It is however a lot of good pilots jobs heading East

Think DCI = business model.

Thanks ALPA!

 

[PuffDriver]

Think DCI = business model.

Thanks ALPA!

:bawling::bawling::bawling::bawling:

 

[ExAF]

Look Closer

deleted....mistake.

 

[flyf15]

There are about 7000 pilot jobs in the US right now doing flying for Delta that don't have "Delta" written on their paychecks.

If you guys hadn't given up scope, every pilot currently at mainline would be a captain or senior FO and thousands of numbers away from even dreaming about being furloughed. But, your union will continue to sell you out so they can get another dollar an hour pay raise on whatever type of widebody equipment they're captains on.


As its been mentioned above, just wait until they do the same thing with codeshares. Its already starting... now is the time to stop it before it gets as out of control as RJs or none of you will have jobs. Delta Connection to ATL then Air France / KLM / Skyteam from there. Never set foot on an actual Delta mainline airplane.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

So we are having a displacement bid to lower widebody manning and no one is concerned about the flying we are SHIFTING to Air France/KLM. We gave JFK-CDG to Air France. I am in BOM on the EWR-AMS-BOM trip and I am hearing we are giving that KLM in the near future. Since Delta shares all the profits it is no loss for them. It is however a lot of good pilots jobs heading East

As I understand it, there will be a displacement bid in Aug. What size is yet to be determined.