Colgan Delta

[GEORGE DUBYA]

Conference call today ... Delta rumor confirmed. Delta interested in the Q as well as "all major airlines".

 

[flyf15]

Good thing Pinnacle pilots were able to help earn their company so much money with their efficient flying, good performance, cheap pay rates, and low QOL.... now Pinnacle is able to buy Colgan all these shiny new airplanes!

I, for one, congratulate both Pinnacle pilots and management for working together towards this impressive business model.

 

[OnTheRocks]

flying yesterdays planes into the future? or flying the futures airplanes for yesterdays pay?

 

[~~~^~~~]

Actually due to their 30 to 40% lower fuel burn, turboprops are believed to be the next generation aircraft after the 787, according to IATA quotes published in Aviation Week and Space Technology today. He leader of IATA said geared turboprop jets (a bid Garrett 731?) or a UDF (like the MD87 technology demonstrator) are probably the future of large aircraft as well since they burn less. Another factor is the carbon taxes which might make CO2 output a cost factor. Somehow the turboprops run more than 40% cleaner. But UDF's are noisy and can only propel an aircraft to about Mach 0.75 before running into real transonic airflow headaches. In service, expect .68 to .70 and altitudes in the high 20's. If this mainline jet of the future sounds a lot like a Dash 8-400's operational limits, well it is because they are similar.

http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Propfan

http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Boeing_7J7

I think the ATR72-500 is a better product with out of date avionics. It has a fuel burn 25 to 30% less than the Q400, carries almost as much and is much easier to park. The Q400 has a 737-800 sized footprint on the ramp which pretty much kicks it out of the DCI operation due to parking constraints. I've never seen a Q400 on a mini-jetway and DL is going all jetway for service transparancy. Sure, it could be designed around, but with DAL's emphasis on operational (and operator) flexibility it has been hard to figure out how to get the Q400 in the system. It might work out of New York, but forget ATL until they get the new terminal built.

 

[SilverandSore]

Another factor is the carbon taxes which might make CO2 output a cost factor.

Carbon credits, carbon taxes. The next big laugable in-thing for those that honestly believe we're responsible for global cooli...warming.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Carbon credits, carbon taxes. The next big laugable in-thing for those that honestly believe we're responsible for global cooli...warming.

I agree that it is dumb, as are concerns that contrails have some effect, but we are talking about politicians and when has there been a smart, pragmatic, French, politician? England already has carbon tax regulation and Delta sells credits over Delta.com for those who want to buy a tree to feel better about their international trip.

We might not like it, but that is where Europe is heading. Besides, our carriers will benefit from the lower fuel burn and the fact that these PW1000 series engines go forever before overhaul / HSI. Try getting the FAA to sign off 15,500 hour inspection intervals like the ATR has on your CF-34 running at max ITT while trying to drag an E170 through the sky.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Great... let's bring another DCI carrier into the fold..... in fact let's bring in another subsidiary of an ALPA carrier that is in section 6 negotiations (PCL)... Herndon we have a problem....

 

[mcjohn]

I'm still trying to figure out why Q400's coming online allows for more efficient CRJ routes and growth or increased profits for companies flying the CR jets.

 

[Grey Ghost]

I bet ORF Jack is blown away by this news!

 

[Kream926]

i think i should stat actually listening in on these calls

 

[outtahere]

Why does Delta want to bring in another headache? Colgan is a sorry performer, with a weak mtc. record. I quit colgan after 1 and 1/2 years because it sucked, nothing has changed. Plus I really don't want to have to hear Colgan callsigns in my own backyard.

 

[JoeMerchant]

Why does Delta want to bring in another headache? Colgan is a sorry performer, with a weak mtc. record. I quit colgan after 1 and 1/2 years because it sucked, nothing has changed. Plus I really don't want to have to hear Colgan callsigns in my own backyard.

Because unlike ALPA, Delta management learned it's lesson from the CMR strike. Delta management is diluting ALPA's power, and they are succeeding. This is exactly why you should quit supporting a failed game plan.

Whipsaw works.... ALPA doesn't.......

 

[BoilerUP]

I've seen Piedmont jetways at some NE outstations with a -100, so I'm sure a Q400 could easily use one.

 

[Grey Ghost]

Why does Delta want to bring in another headache? Colgan is a sorry performer, with a weak mtc. record. I quit colgan after 1 and 1/2 years because it sucked, nothing has changed. Plus I really don't want to have to hear Colgan callsigns in my own backyard.

yeah, you're right! there is nobody as good as skywest!

 

[better up here]

Plus I really don't want to have to hear Colgan callsigns in my own backyard.

I'll give you a good deal on your house. Does it have a pool?

 

[Turtlesfly]

so what is it, 8 different DCI operations all at the same time now? If you don't count all of RAH as one?

With Colgan and XJT I Think it's 8. The "Great 8!"

 

[Mr Wu]

All your codeshares will belong to us!

 

[Prop2Jet]

Yeah like to see it all happen. We can't even keep people in the hiring class.

 

[Minimaniac]

Delta will go after Colgan to fly the Q400, as will the other majors, only because they have a Q400 program in place. No one really wants Colgan, but they have all those EAS passengers who are buying tickets. I am just surprised that to this point no larger, financially stable regional like XJT/ RAH/ SKW has really jumped on this growing market. Props will replace RJ's on local routes... I think on just about anything less than 300nm. The profit potential is just too much for the big players to pass up. It is just a shame that Colgan is going to reap the benefits. Sorry guys, I worked there, and I cannot wish long term success to Colgan. Pinnacle guys, get yourselves merged in with Colgan and get them unionized, because that is where the party will be in three years when more majors come looking for the next great fix to their problems.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Mini, you might be right. But fleet commonality and scheduling issues weigh in favor of the RJ's. It was explained to me that "yes, an ATR does make more sense to fly Atlanta to Augusta, but we need to make room in Atlanta and there is a 2:00 sit for the CR7. We fly it to Augusta just to get it off the gate and Delta passenergs want jet service."

If it was all about money, it would be all about the ATR since it does more for less money. ASA has looked hard at the Q400 repeatedly and keep coming up with the same reasons it can't work in Atlanta.

According to Boyd, many of the local routes will simply go away with people driving to larger airports to connect to the system. Part of the reason for the disapperance of 121 service to smaller markets are all the costs associated with security. Also, many of these airports took all the Federal money they could get to build palaces that they now have to tax the crap out of passengers to afford the maintenance. Has anyone seen the Taj Mahal in Brunswick, Georgia? It is beautiful. But how can two half full RJ's provide enough passengers in a day to pay enough facility taxes to support it? The local, federal, and airport staff exceed the number of passengers and Jacksonville is so much cheaper even the law enforcement managers on federal expense accounts are now getting routed through the larger airport.

I think many of these Federally funded facilities made little economic sense and will be shut down white elephants used to house County Governments or really nice office space for maintenance shops of the future.