Ata ?

[mt2]

Wow, big day Friday. Over 1 million shares traded of ATAH. What the heck is going on here ?? Anyone hear anything out there ??

 

[ATA717Pilot]

MT

Bussiness Class...didn't you hear...gonna save the company.

Oh yeah.....100 seaters as soon as concessions are passed - see new handle. Can't wait, gonna be on the property any day.

And rumors of COO J.H. leaving at the end of the year. His replacement will be the Indy dentist guy from the board of directors.

Sorry.....about the sarcasm.

JEF

 

[lowecur]

Wow, big day Friday. Over 1 million shares traded of ATAH. What the heck is going on here ?? Anyone hear anything out there ??

It's called a short squeeze. The hedge funds start buying shares low thus forcing all the shorts to cover. It feeds on itself. I have my doubts it would be something positive, but if it is we should know something this week.

 

[mt2]

JEF --


Sarcasm happens to be one of my better traits

I've heard the Hlavcek rumor too. Perhaps investors are as excited about it as our pilots !!

MT

 

[NZCHooverboy]

LEC Guys say

Building 1 was crawling with lawyers on Friday. I don't know if they are there to plan for bankruptcy, merger or sale.

Any ideas?

 

[hopeful]

Rumors are flying over at SWA! Possible purchase of all ATA's assets (except personnel). Rumors of trading 757's for 737's with other carriers to make their respective positions stronger in respect to Jet Blue, AirTran and others. L10's are spoken for by a foreign cargo carrier. A possible purchase of "firesale" items from USAIR is also part of the whole "equation." It will be a business deal between several carriers that will ensure that USAir is gone and ATA's equipment is operating for other carriers. This will reduce supply and increase demand (via the "Southwest Effect")at the same time creating a "pre 911" environment.


Hear the only sticking point is with personnel issues. ATA wants the employees to go with the equipment and SWA says no-way. Apparently they are in the final stages of working out a "preferrential interview" deal with no guarantees for the ATA employees.
SWA will be the largest carrier in the world (A/C and passengers carried) by May 05.

Stock should trade in the mid to upper $20 by March.

 

[mt2]

Hmmm, I wonder how big the holes in our fragmentation clause are ??

 

[mach zero]

From hopeful:
Rumors are flying over at SWA! Possible purchase of all ATA's assets (except personnel). Rumors of trading 757's for 737's with other carriers to make their respective positions stronger in respect to Jet Blue, AirTran and others. L10's are spoken for by a foreign cargo carrier. A possible purchase of "firesale" items from USAIR is also part of the whole "equation." It will be a business deal between several carriers that will ensure that USAir is gone and ATA's equipment is operating for other carriers. This will reduce supply and increase demand (via the "Southwest Effect")at the same time creating a "pre 911" environment.

This sounds pretty far fetched to me. Last I heard SWA wanted no planes bigger than their -700's. ATA flies only the -800 which is much larger. I could see them being interested in the MDW gates and that's about all. Also, ATA was just awarded an expensive contract of flying for the DOD. So if the Tritanics go to some "foreign cargo-carrier" how will they service that account?

 

[HAL]

The rumors are flying thick and hot here at AWA too. They're about a lot more 757's on the property soon. Since the '57 is out of production, we'd have to be getting them from some other carrier (hint, hint). In the last vacancy bid, several senior check airmen types switched over from the Airbus to the '57 for no apparent reason too. We are working on ETOPS for the 757 fleet with hopes of starting Hawaii service in 2006. However our current '57s are too old to make it through, so we must be getting more soon. Also, the instructors have been told to get ready for a large hiring cycle soon. Just some things to think about.


HAL

 

[English]

I wonder how Aloha fits into this picture...we have rumors flying about someone buying us as well. We are in the process of selling off cargo and contract services, and we are already beginning the shedding of interisland flying. All that would be left (and lucrative) is the -700 ETOPS flying.


America Aloha Trans Air West? Has a ring to it, doesn't it?

 

[dash8driver]

I wonder how Aloha fits into this picture...we have rumors flying about someone buying us as well. We are in the process of selling off cargo and contract services, and we are already beginning the shedding of interisland flying. All that would be left (and lucrative) is the -700 ETOPS flying.


America Aloha Trans Air West? Has a ring to it, doesn't it?

have patience.. its coming soon. some of us have been sworn to secrecy, but you will know soon enuff.

 

[Cactus73]

The rumors are flying thick and hot here at AWA too. They're about a lot more 757's on the property soon. Since the '57 is out of production, we'd have to be getting them from some other carrier (hint, hint). In the last vacancy bid, several senior check airmen types switched over from the Airbus to the '57 for no apparent reason too. We are working on ETOPS for the 757 fleet with hopes of starting Hawaii service in 2006. However our current '57s are too old to make it through, so we must be getting more soon. Also, the instructors have been told to get ready for a large hiring cycle soon. Just some things to think about.


HAL

Not sure what you're all smoking, but I need to get some of it. I've been hearing these rumors since day one. I'll believe it when I see it.

Not sure AWA is going to be able to do anything with a market cap less than almost any airline. Our stock is in the $5 range.

I hope that I'm proven wrong but this winter is going to be tough. I would imagine Parker is going to protect our cash and limit the losses by being very conservative. Until gas gets cheaper and the whole USAirways thing works itself out, I would be surprised to see much happening. The AZ Republic basically announced the arrival of jetBlue here in PHX as the best thing since sliced bread. They got a free front page ad on this Sunday's paper. It seems we only get mentioned when things aren't going so well.

Not trying to sound negative, I just think this winter could be tough. I hope I'm wrong!

 

[mt2]

The "A" team

That's it, brilliant!!

The "A" team:

America West
ATA
Aloha
Alaska
Airtran

Yeah, we go there...

 

[DX Rick]

ATA guys.
I am looking at a return flight from PHX In October. We go PHX-LGA-MDW....What's going on with that? It turns out to be a 14 hour travel day.

 

[ATA737CAPT]

We have several flights every day in Oct. I checked Oct 21 and came up with flt 414-direct-dep PHX 1040 arr LGA 735pm. That is a 6 hr 55 min total travel time.

If you are just going to MDW, the computer must have listed the flight that goes through IND then to NY as well.

 

[DX Rick]

ok..

We checked it on Sabre at work. It leaves PHX at something like 940am, to LGA then arrives at MDW about 1035pm

 

[NAA Pilot]

Heard some intesting rumors on our property regarding ATA. We'll see!

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Well.....

Heard some intesting rumors on our property regarding ATA. We'll see!

Don't play like that, let's have it!

 

[Dart]

If ATA is bought out by AWA or any other airline....What do you think will happen to the pilots? For those of us in the pool at ATA....you think we would go along with the sell? Thanks.

 

[mt2]

Dart,

I think pool guys are definitely out of any deal. It'll be hard enough to include the pilots currently on the property nevermind those who aren't yet on the list.

There are so many rumors swirling lately it is ridiculous. Some seem possible, others are flat out far-fetched. The NAA rumor came and went a year ago, it's highly unlikely to come to pass now. Most are pure speculation, like our stock these days

One thing's for certain, the next few months will be telling.

 

[CaptSeth]

Surprise!

Thought you could get away from me, eh Mike? Not so fast....

You might have the last laugh on that bent-wing atrocity after all....

 

[mach zero]

If ATA is bought out by AWA or any other airline....What do you think will happen to the pilots? For those of us in the pool at ATA....you think we would go along with the sell? Thanks.

I just received another update from the union on concession talks and they mentioned furloughs more than once. I would definitely look for another job if I were you. I don't think there will be a new hire class at ATA anytime soon. Also, I agree with mt2 in that the pool swimmers will be left out of any acquisition deal.

 

[mt2]

lucky?

Seth,

I can run but I can't hide, eh?

It's been a looong year in this bent wing POS, perhaps it may turn out OK after all...

 

[storminpilot]

Gotta Love Mechanics

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/040929/295815_1.html

Press ReleaseSource: AMFA National


Strike Possibility Increases as Frustrated ATA Mechanics Ask for Mediation to End
Wednesday September 29, 4:20 pm ET

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 2004--ATA aircraft mechanics, frustrated by the airline's refusal to take mediation seriously, will ask the National Mediation Board (NMB) to release them from the process. The release, if granted, would automatically start the 30-day cooling off period before a strike, in accordance with the Railway Labor Act that governs airline labor relations.

According to Jim Young, regional director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Organization (AMFA), "ATA does not seem interested in resolving differences through the mediation process. They recently shifted the talks into reverse by reneging on an outsourcing provision they agreed to months ago. They are unwilling to discuss the most basic provision of any labor contract, job security, even though they renewed it for other unionized employee groups, including pilots and flight attendants.

"In the wake of major layoffs and concessions, we are painfully aware of ATA's financial situation and have been doing everything we can to help the company succeed. But this is not about money; it's about job security and fairness. We believe the hidden agenda is to furlough employees and outsource their work. ATA forced mediation to happen by dragging out our contract negotiations and now is not taking mediation seriously. ATA has left us no alternative except to push for the next legal step, which will head us toward a strike," Young said.
Contact: AMFA Jim Young, 612-387-8061 or 952-851-7151 [email protected]

 

[75M]

Good for them.

 

[Dart]

Answers my ?..........good luck to all!

 

[SWA/FO]

Give me some more rumors? Anything new?

 

[mt2]

Ok. ATA management won't meet with the Union to give them an updated financial briefing. Claim some sort of Regs or law won't allow it. Loads are good, biz class is very well received, and the operation is running great. Fuel and yields are the problem as with everyone else.

Other than that, no new buyout/merger rumors. Sorry.

 

[ATA737CAPT]

Ok. ATA management won't meet with the Union to give them an updated financial briefing. Claim some sort of Regs or law won't allow it. Loads are good, biz class is very well received, and the operation is running great. Fuel and yields are the problem as with everyone else.

Other than that, no new buyout/merger rumors. Sorry.

That pretty much sums it up!

 

[TriStar_drvr]

Give me some more rumors? Anything new?

SWA has reached an agreement to purchase all of ATA's 737-800s to begin service out of DFW. Also included in the agreement is the provision that all ATA pilots currently flyingthe 737s will become SWA employees integrated into the SWA seniority list by DOH. Fences will be in place for eternity, barring any current SWA pilot from bidding any position into the 737-800 (which by the way will have a 10% pay override due to the higher seating capacity). This will continue SWA's tradition of containing costs, by not confusing current SWA pilots with things like autothottles, autobrakes, and autoland procedures. It will also save on retraining current ATA pilots on how to manually move the throttles, apply brakes, or even how to land an airplane again after being spoiled by such gadgetry.

Can't wait to see you guys in Dallas. Oh, by the way, I've been placed in the position as Fleet Manager 737-800.