ASA conference call

[WWEfan]

Squeezing Regionals on revenue? You mean making you pay for your own gas? RJs can't make money with high gas.

BTW, have you read the UAL/CAL MEC response to larger RJs in the United Negotiations online? Interesting read, in the Major's section.


Bye Bye---General Lee

I'm gonna head over to the major's section right now! If it's posted there it must be true.

 

[79%N1]

So what happens when you charge more and your competitor doesn't? Are you suggesting collusion?

No. Then that's their problem. I know what you are getting at, but if you want to keep charging a price that loses money that's that companies problem. I understand the competition factor, but if you charge enough then you can be profitable.

And p.s. The major partner can't just arbitrarily decide to have the regional pay for gas. The whole deal would have to be re-worked.

 

[Data]

No. Then that's their problem. I know what you are getting at, but if you want to keep charging a price that loses money that's that companies problem. I understand the competition factor, but if you charge enough then you can be profitable.

And p.s. The major partner can't just arbitrarily decide to have the regional pay for gas. The whole deal would have to be re-worked.

It's just the nature of competition in the airline industry, one airline is going to have more to lose in their attempt to fill seats and if it comes at another airline's expense, so much the better. What amazes me is how much it really costs to gain so little. Case in point, SkyWest, for 2010 the combined airlines flew 1.5 million block hours and had a net profit of $90 million...or, about $60/hour.

 

[blesko]

Any airplane can "make money". IF YOU CHARGE ENOUGH FOR IT'S SERVICE!!

Bye, bye.......Tool.

+1......airlines are not a loss leader, but yet run their business as such. Gas prices rise, so do fares. Pretty simple. DL's round trip fare from ATL-SFO for july 9 is 324 round trip. 408 round trip departing this friday. Sure its better than the seat being empty, but that seems awfully cheap.

 

[shamrock]

You have to admit, it wasn't until after they started merging the airlines together the fit hit the shan so to speak...

AceyImplosionapalooza-Spring/Summer 2010 took place long before the Expressjet purchase so no, we don't have to admit to anything.

It's vuja-de all over again...

 

[OCP]

You have to admit, it wasn't until after they started merging the airlines together the fit hit the shan so to speak...

Were you hear last year?

 

[COOPERVANE]

AceyImplosionapalooza-Spring/Summer 2010 took place long before the Expressjet purchase so no, we don't have to admit to anything.

It's vuja-de all over again...

Hahahahahha!

AceyImplosionapalooza

I like it!!

 

[Thebadcat1313]

Were you hear last year?

No sir, I was here.

 

[OCP]

No sir, I was here.

Oops... Anyway the point was we had this crap happening before we started the merger.

 

[Ted]

Oops... Anyway the point was we had this crap happening before we started the merger.

I just don't understand the reluctance to staff it properly. In another 9 months, it wont be POSSIBLE to find anyone to hire. I bet we spend more money in one day on LAV services that do not occur than we would on a new-hire F/O's salary. BTW, we are supposedly charged for a LAV service on each turn in the hub. Make sure you get one!

 

[Abernathy]

I just don't understand the reluctance to staff it properly. In another 9 months, it wont be POSSIBLE to find anyone to hire. I bet we spend more money in one day on LAV services that do not occur than we would on a new-hire F/O's salary. BTW, we are supposedly charged for a LAV service on each turn in the hub. Make sure you get one!

The answer is simple. BH has a detrimental and moronic attitude towards staffing. One of his biggest pet peeves, he admitted, is reserves who are at home on a day on. That's why during periods when we were better staffed, on a day in which you probably wouldn't fly, they have you come to the airport and sit RRR with a bunch of other people until midnight.

This is also why he staffs so thin. Don't let his sweet-talking, blue-jean wearing, salesman-styling, moustache-talking convince you otherwise. He doesn't want to risk having any reserves sit at home on a day on. Nothing gets him dandier than a bucket list that has nothing but ZEROs on it.

 

[nimtz]

Neither can your DC9's, Maddogs, or 747s....Bye Bye....

Aww Joe you know I feel sorry for ya' deep down. After all you are kind of like the Chicago Cubs of airline pilots; confused yet somehow sure with nothing to show for it after many years. Since I saw proclaiming your desire for bigger jets on another board I've decided to support UAL management's opening proposal. After seeing the scope section I thought of you. That should help alleviate your stress over the mainline carriers threatening your beloved commuter with a 'revenue squeeze'. Hope you enjoy the sweet capt seat in your brand new 95 seat jet! :beer:

 

[Thebadcat1313]

Oops... Anyway the point was we had this crap happening before we started the merger.

I didn't start getting extended and jr. manned until October '10. Not to say this stuff didn't start happening until before that. It just seemed liked the meltdown came in the Fall, not last Summer. I'm not on Reserve, but I do know the Reserves have been getting hammered since waaaay before last Summer as well.

 

[flygirl135]

so you're saying that BH plans pilot staffing around using reserves to fill open time... and no more. Yep, that makes lots of sense! So when one pilot calls in sick, the flights get cancelled or lineholders are extended. Apparently, he enjoys running a company of p!$$ed off pilots... On another note, if schedulers/crew planning were even remotely compentent we'd have more efficient trips and this problem MIGHT become a non-issue (well, except for the part where BH hates reserves sitting at home)

 

[Abernathy]

so you're saying that BH plans pilot staffing around using reserves to fill open time... and no more. Yep, that makes lots of sense! So when one pilot calls in sick, the flights get cancelled or lineholders are extended. Apparently, he enjoys running a company of p!$$ed off pilots... On another note, if schedulers/crew planning were even remotely compentent we'd have more efficient trips and this problem MIGHT become a non-issue (well, except for the part where BH hates reserves sitting at home)

The problem with BH is that he thinks he's running a Rite Aid.

 

[PuffDriver]

Neither can your DC9's, Maddogs, or 747s....Bye Bye....

Not exactly. Perhaps we should post the numbers of mainline parked airplanes and regional airplanes. Pretty sobering stuff. Throw in a 100 seat RFP and things start to look bad for contract renewals on 70-76 seat airplanes.

Bye, Bye

 

[blesko]

we came up with the solution on my last trip....its buy an FO program. At an open house, or some type of event, have BH, CT and SH all in a dunk tank. 3 balls for SH is 20 bucks, CT is 30 and BH is 40. $75 for all 3. Take that revenue and we can buy an F/O's salary......kidding of course..but the dunk tank would be fun!!!

 

[flap operator]

Just curious ASA guys... with the announced reductions in MEM hitting the 200s operated by ASA and Comair pretty hard, why would ASA be opening a base there? Or is it a 700/900 base like your new base in DTW?

 

[PBRstreetgang]

The problem with BH is that he thinks he's running a Rite Aid.

B.H. Is a classic example of the "Peter Principal" enjoy your Neopolanic Nero Porn star!
PBR

 

[Thebadcat1313]

Just curious ASA guys... with the announced reductions in MEM hitting the 200s operated by ASA and Comair pretty hard, why would ASA be opening a base there? Or is it a 700/900 base like your new base in DTW?

According to our VP of Flight Ops, it's all driven by Delta. Originally, there was some massive construction under way in MEM, and Delta didn't want any growth or high banks of flights in and out of MEM. Apparently that has been resolved. ASA's "looking into it"... Our Fall schedule was set to reduce, however we are receiving a couple of 200's from 9E, so I don't think we will see a great reduction. I would expect a Mem base in ASA's near future, probably in the Fall period leading into the Winter period of 2011. That's my opinion, however.