A couple of things to add:
I believe the initial furloughs in Jan. will be just under 60. Another 50 to 60 late spring or summer. We are at around 845 now. Begs the question, "If we're down to 30 airplanes, what are we going to do with all these pilots?"
A reliable source had an informal meeting with Denison and another CA that it's possible that we won't need the spring/summer furloughs. If we do, then that should be the last of them. There are approximately 140 FA furloughs coming soon as well. Hmmmm. Either there is some planned growth for late 2006 or 2007 or there's a big fat stupid lie out there.
Other rumors, inferences, are that we are returning to our "roots" of charter, particularly international charter.
Maitlin/Patterson is coming in, throwing a bunch of money around, trying to wrest any control of ATA by SWA by trading assets for debt and stock. These guys are pretty tough and haven't failed yet, however, I don't know of their expertise in airline managment. They have stated that they are in this for the long-haul (2,3,5 or 10m years?), but what's long haul?
I am stupified by the lost opportunity in ATA that has been, and continues to be, squandered.
It is what it is. Apple did the same thing 15-20 years ago. Maybe we can get it back.
