ASA shutting the door on hiring

[777forever]

Basing this off of what?

Training department folks, first hand experience, and common sense. The ATRs are falling apart, the maintenance parts inventory is low so if something breaks it takes forever to fix, and they break so often it screws up the entire schedule and flights get cancelled. Ask any Tri Cities commuter about the ATR. Ask any Gainesville commuter about the ATR.

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Training department folks, first hand experience, and common sense. The ATRs are falling apart, the maintenance parts inventory is low so if something breaks it takes forever to fix, and they break so often it screws up the entire schedule and flights get cancelled. Ask any Tri Cities commuter about the ATR. Ask any Gainesville commuter about the ATR.

I don't think you have enough first hand experience to really judge the rest of it. Being that April is the first time you will be eligable to bid.

 

[JumpersAway]

Looking down the barrel of a possible 8 billion dollar loss, industry wide, for 2008; it doesn't suprise me. It's going to be very interesting to see what sort of announcements are going to come from Delta over the next couple of weeks. One way or the other, I've got a feeling that ASA is going to be very different in a year. Be it for the better, or for the worse, I am not certain.

Did I understand correctly that JA was in Atlanta for nearly a week not too long ago? Sounds to me that it could be paving the way for ASA to expand it's fleet by larger (70-90 seater) RJs. Either that, or Delta is going to make ASA more accountable for fuel use/consumption. If DCI carriers are going to be whittled down to 4 by the end of 2008, what potential does ASA have- will we grow as a result? I'd be very suprised to see that we don't grow at the expense of another carrier. My prediction is Mesa and Chautauqua, maybe even Comair, will go away while ASA fills in the blanks with less frequency, and bigger planes.

Oh well, we'll see.

 

[Medeco]

My guess is JA was in town for a few reasons.

1) he has a new President running ASA, so he came to see first hand what Brad was doing, good or bad.

2) Skywest Inc. has a 25 million dollar grievance with DAL Inc. and probably met with them over this dispute.

3) Met with DAL about where Skywest Inc. stands in the new business model DAL will announce next week. I'm sure JA wanted to say first to Richard Anderson, that he has 12 years remaining on a contract and he intends to hold them to it.


ASA is the largest DCI carrier not owned by DAL, and we are making pretty big improvements over time. It wont surprise me if we get more DCI flying, but I also wont be surprised if ALL DCI flying shrinks.

Medeco

 

[Cpt Oveur]

of course it's all going to shrink. True, they will whittle the carriers down. Not good for companies like Chautauqua flying 37 seaters or those flying only 50 seaters, like Freedom.

There's no telling why he was there. Was Orenstein in Atlanta, or the head of any other DCI carrier? There's not going to be any good news for DCI this season with oil going the way it is. Delta brand will pull out of numerous markets.

 

[crjskipper]

still amazes me how many times i'm behind a 200 or 700 or ATR with both engines running 7 or 8 deep in line. most fo's i fly with on the 700 start the apu the second we land. its getting better but still too many people who dont do enough.

 

[Speedtape]

Looking down the barrel of a possible 8 billion dollar loss, industry wide, for 2008; it doesn't suprise me. It's going to be very interesting to see what sort of announcements are going to come from Delta over the next couple of weeks. One way or the other, I've got a feeling that ASA is going to be very different in a year. Be it for the better, or for the worse, I am not certain.

Did I understand correctly that JA was in Atlanta for nearly a week not too long ago? Sounds to me that it could be paving the way for ASA to expand it's fleet by larger (70-90 seater) RJs. Either that, or Delta is going to make ASA more accountable for fuel use/consumption. If DCI carriers are going to be whittled down to 4 by the end of 2008, what potential does ASA have- will we grow as a result? I'd be very suprised to see that we don't grow at the expense of another carrier. My prediction is Mesa and Chautauqua, maybe even Comair, will go away while ASA fills in the blanks with less frequency, and bigger planes.

Oh well, we'll see.

In the past, when the economy tanked, mainline shrank, and ASA, Comair, and Skywest grew. Delta has made announcements over and over that they would focus growth on international flights. That will probably not stop. Reduction in domestic flying will probably be reduced. It history repeats, this should provide more opportunity for DCI, which now includes more than ASA, Comair, and Skywest.

Having said that, there are some existing DCI routes that will be eliminated due to poor load factors. However, with mainline cutbacks, there probably be some new opportunities for DCI. Replacement Jets (RJ's) will probably be an even more important
part of the strategy.

There has been some mention of reducing the Connectors. If this happens, some will go, some will grow. Maybe, this makes the success of D-0 even more important.

 

[ifly4food]

still amazes me how many times i'm behind a 200 or 700 or ATR with both engines running 7 or 8 deep in line. most fo's i fly with on the 700 start the apu the second we land. its getting better but still too many people who dont do enough.

FWIW, a lot of times we have operational issues on the ATR requiring us to spin both of them. Namely, you need both engines running to cool the cabin. Also, it's hard to taxi on one engine especially when really heavy, and we have a restriction requiring using both engines when the pavement is wet or icy.

 

[scarlet]

Delta will discontinue over 6% of their flights overall...

But other airlines are going to do the same..

There is a race going on right now for all airlines to get their books inline to file BK yet again. Trying not to be the last one to file and no money left for you from investors...

 

[ifly4food]

Delta will discontinue over 6% of their flights overall...

But other airlines are going to do the same..

There is a race going on right now for all airlines to get their books inline to file BK yet again. Trying not to be the last one to file and no money left for you from investors...

I'm not so sure about that. My understanding of the changes in the bk laws is that it's much harder now to just hide/burn through your cash and slip into bk like they did before.

 

[Tarzan]

As far as the DCI stuff, we at ASA, need to start looking for more ways to save fuel. I had a flight the other day where we were 400 lbs in back of the predicted fuel burn for the trip. If we can start doing more stuff like that, I believe we can be assured of more flying as others are whittled down.

 

[Speedtape]

I'm not so sure about that. My understanding of the changes in the bk laws is that it's much harder now to just hide/burn through your cash and slip into bk like they did before.

Well, this is partially true. Under the new bankruptcy laws, debt to creditors cannot be written off as before. The new laws do not allow you to have debt discounted. It allows for restructure or a longer payout, but the same amount of debt is on the books. Of course, this requires approval from the courts and the creditors. Otherwise, you go straight to Chapter 7.

 

[SPDBRD747400]

Not good for companies like Chautauqua flying 37 seaters or those flying only 50 seaters, like Freedom.

Actually Freedom also flys the -900's for DL mainly outta JFK. IIRC these are owned by DL and could be transferred to anyone if Mesa/Freedom goes outta business.

 

[TOOL CRIB]

As far as the DCI stuff, we at ASA, need to start looking for more ways to save fuel. I had a flight the other day where we were 400 lbs in back of the predicted fuel burn for the trip. If we can start doing more stuff like that, I believe we can be assured of more flying as others are whittled down.

Psssh I saved 550 off one once! Of course having only 20 pax and a good tailwind helps! Also cruising 4000ft above planned altitude.

I think they should give us $10 for each flight we burn below average. That'll get people to start saving more. I heard a guy on the ramp the other day that wanted to push back and burn off fuel instead of waiting 30 min to get de-fueled. What an idiot!

 

[dal757]

Psssh I saved 550 off one once! Of course having only 20 pax and a good tailwind helps! Also cruising 4000ft above planned altitude.

I think they should give us $10 for each flight we burn below average. That'll get people to start saving more. I heard a guy on the ramp the other day that wanted to push back and burn off fuel instead of waiting 30 min to get de-fueled. What an idiot!

Actually he's smart pushing back. You still pay for the fuel that we de-fuel and that fuel can't be used again. Not so dumb to me!