AS - this doesn't sound too good

[Dave Benjamin]

Alaska Airlines board to discuss cutting 26 fuel-guzzling planes THE NEWS TRIBUNE

http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/5534067p-4983614c.html

 

[Capi_Cafre']

Alaska Airlines board to discuss cutting 26 fuel-guzzling planes THE NEWS TRIBUNE

http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/5534067p-4983614c.html

Soon to be followed by something along the lines of:

"In order to operate these aircraft profitably, we must get our pilot costs in line with those of our main competitor, Allegiant Air....."

 

[mach none]

I wouldn't worry too much. The MD won't go away until we need the loss for contract talks. Our contract is amendable in 5/07. Sometime after that, they will start to go away is my guess.

We are getting 42 -800's now. I did hear an interesting rumor in ANC the other day...we heavy checked some -200s to extend there life in case the ANWAR opens up.

 

[IAHERJ]

How does a merger with CAL sound? I know mergers are messy but I think since we're both in a hiring mode and have similar fleets(we even have a MD-80 sim left). We need the West Coast and you guys probably want name recognition on the East Coast. Maybe I'm full of it. Just a random thought I just had and I'm sure it's been discussed on this forum.

IAHERJ

 

[BORAT]

I did hear an interesting rumor in ANC the other day...we heavy checked some -200s to extend there life in case the ANWAR opens up.

Last I heard that issue was dead...Remember Uncle Ted got pounded in the media because he attached opening ANWR in a defense bill? I haven't heard anything since the bill was voted down.

You'd think me might be seeing the -400 freighters by now. Anybody know the status of that project?

 

[lumax]

The first 400 freighter should be completed by April.

 

[K. Marx]

How does a merger with CAL sound? I know mergers are messy but I think since we're both in a hiring mode and have similar fleets(we even have a MD-80 sim left). We need the West Coast and you guys probably want name recognition on the East Coast. Maybe I'm full of it. Just a random thought I just had and I'm sure it's been discussed on this forum.

IAHERJ

It does seem to make sense at a glance. If we were going to merge with anyone, CAL would be the only won that would not scare the crap out of me.

 

[AK737FO]

200's forever

The 200 fleet remains at 7 aircraft. 742 was previously leased and had been scheduled to go to Aloha when we ran it out of time. Alaska bought the aircraft instead and sent it in for a D check. It should return to the line in March 06.

So, right now we have 6 MudHens flying, soon to be 7. The airplane with the shortest time remaining (till heavy check due) is a little over 2 years. The others have 3 to 5 years remaining.

The company plans on parking them all by June 2007.
Personally, I think they will be around a lot longer than that. I'm not counting on the 400 combi until I see it on the ramp. The 400 freighter is suppose to be a slam dunk done deal, but the combi could have some troubles in certification.

 

[vetrider]

AK737FO if you own that Stearman in your avatar I'm envious as all get out.

 

[CGHercster]

We are getting 42 -800's now. I did hear an interesting rumor in ANC the other day...we heavy checked some -200s to extend there life in case the ANWAR opens up.

Bring back the Hercs!

 

[F#7b5]

CAL and AS?

CAL and AS seem like the best cadidates to merge together. Then you'd have GUM, NYC, SEA, IAH, CLE, LAX.....for bases and pretty much cover all of the civilized world. Not to mention both airlines have great employees. I'm not talking about the contract ones. I mean the real employees.