Bye Bye Air Wiskey

[Blah Blah Blah]

United Reserves Right To Change Agreement With Air Wisconsin
09-12

Aviation Week's AVIATION DAILY

United told the bankruptcy court management is reserving the right to change or even reject a deal reached in July with Air Wisconsin, sowing uncertainty over United's long-term commitment to the Appleton, Wis.-based regional.

In court documents filed last week, United explained that entry into its "Amended Agreement" with Air Wisconsin "doesn't constitute assumption of the agreement."

United's strategy with Air Wisconsin contrasts sharply with its SkyWest deal, which the bankruptcy court approved this week (DAILY, Sept. 11). A United spokesman said assumption of the SkyWest contract "was financially appropriate and a prudent business decision."

Though at $2,960, Air Wisconsin's regional jet rates per departure for a 500- mile stage length trip were lowest among United's pre-bankruptcy partners, the carrier got bids of $2,732 and $2,565 during reorganization. The last bid was reportedly from Mesa Airlines (DAILY, July 2).

United is Air Wisconsin's largest partner, and the two carriers signed an 11- year memorandum of understanding letting Air Wisconsin add 20 more regional jets to its United Express operations. Air Wisconsin has about 24 CRJ200s on order, and said it plans to add 50 aircraft before yearend.

 

[PilotRon]

Enter Chautauqua Airlines

After contract ratification an UAL deal for 25 - 50 Embraer 170's will be announced.

 

[KingAirer]

Bye bye??

Sounds like UAL is just tightnin' the ropes on Air Wiskey to get a lower rate. I cant see air wis letting this go since UAL is such a major part of their company.

 

[PilotRon]

Consider this.

1. Chautauqua initially loses bid because of contract dispute. (lower bid than Air Wisconsin)
2. LOA signed with Air Wisconsin because of contract problems with CHQ.
3. UAL decides if CHQ can iron out problems with pilots they can have a chunk of the deal.
3. CHQ pilots nail out a good TA

Kingairer ???

 

[KingAirer]

Thats true, I agree. IM just saying its probably going to go back to Air Wis for a chance to give a lower rate. Im sure it would be easier for Air Wis and UAL to keep them in place. Its certainly going to be interesting, with ACA getting swapped out and now Airwis possibly.

 

[treetopflyer]

ACA did not get "swapped out" we politely bowed out of this race to the bottom.

 

[Splert]

How will AWA find competitive financing for aircraft that is back by a deal that can be rejected?

Good-Day...

 

[PilotRon]

b-u-m-p

 

[Machdog1]

Why would you be excited about that, there is a reason why ACA left United, I would not get excited to be partners with them. The race to the bottom continues. I feel for you Air whiskey!!

 

[PilotRon]

i wouldn't call it a race to the bottom.

We are about to vote on a improved TA.

I would say that supior management will win this battle.

would you say that SWA or Jetblue are creating a race to the bottom for majors?

We are doing the same thing.. Keeping costs down so that we can bid on contracts.

I call that nothing more than good business.

 

[treetopflyer]

so tell me pilotron, what were your rates for the new e-170?

did you even have them in your new ta?

if not, then enjoy flying them for your 50 seat rates because management is going to say......

(crying voice) but we cant afford to pay you any higher rates than the 50 seat rates because mean old untied said so if we want this contract.

Id rather die on my feet than live bent over by Untied

 

[PilotRon]

so tell me pilotron, what were your rates for the new e-170?

did you even have them in your new ta?

if not, then enjoy flying them for your 50 seat rates because management is going to say......

(crying voice) but we cant afford to pay you any higher rates than the 50 seat rates because mean old untied said so if we want this contract.

Id rather die on my feet than live bent over by Untied

We got rates for:
32-49 seats covers EMB-135/140
50-59 seats covers EMB-145
60-78 seats covers EMB-170
79-99 seats covers EMB-190 (possibly)

 

[rightrudder]

I'd wait a little bit longer before dancing on the grave of AWAC. UAL has lost ACA as an express feeder, and that's a ton of aircraft. AWAC also does quite a bit of flying for UAL. I really don't think it would be easy to shed both ACA and AWAC. The other Express operators and potential ones would have a lot of slack to pick up.

I think this is about our labor issue with our mechanics, more than anything else. Just a little more pressure to put their feet to the fire.

We'll just wait and see how this all plays out.

 

[Mayday911]

It is unreal how the same pilots that bashed Mesa for signing their POS are now defending their own POS. Whatever happened to CHQ pilots are going to raise the bar? You don't raise the bar unless you get a better contract than the best one in place.

But someone did make a very interesting point....the best management team will win. Not the best management team for running an airline correctly, but the best management team that can use mind games, and alter ego carriers to force work groups into voting for something that they would not normally vote Yes on.

I am an AWAC pilot and you can have United!!! I hope that the United management team (current and former) and the Bain Consulting Group rot in he!! AirTran wants us to fly 70 seaters in ATL and our management is exploring other codeshares. Best part if we lose the United contract...no concessions!! Who knows maybe ACA and AWAC will join together and make the skies not so friendly for UAL.

Good Night,
Mayday

 

[g159av8tor]

ACA ans AWAC joined again. The irony...

Tailwinds...

 

[KingAirKiddo]

ACA and AWAC...that would be AWESOME!

 

[mckpickle]

The race to the bottome continues. We can thank MESA, Skywest , for signing a contract that flys 70 seats at 50 seat wages.

How is this not taking jobs away from others by agreeing to work for less than your worth.

We are our own worst enemy and unless this cycle is broken we will spen the next 15 years trying to recover.

 

[CF34-3B1]

3. CHQ pilots nail out a good TA

Those rates are no better, and in most cases worse than ASA's FIVE YEARD OLD rates.

How is it a good TA if it's no better than ASA's old contract?

 

[AirBoard]

I hate to say it but relying on UAL for your regional growth may become a deadend street. Nothing to get exited about. UAL is in serious trouble folks, it's REALLY BAD. When I joined ACA I was excited about our future potential on the UAL side but after the BAin process and their treatment of UAX carriers it left most with a bitter taste in their mouths. Any new flying will be done for bargain basement rates, almost unsustainable. I''m glad we're not selling ourselves out for bargain rates only to be left with 100 RJs when UAL can't afford to lose $2 Billion anymore......

 

[g159av8tor]

Thank God (or Pfizer) for percocet and beer...