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DAL and ATA face liquidity crisis

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G4G5,


You OBVIOUSLY haven't been paying attention. We actually HAVE an expansion plan in the computers(RES), and that will NOT change. We are already selling seats for Feburary with 60 more flights a day from ATL alone. If we actually go Chap 11---even more of those 1270 or so pilots eligible for early retirement WILL TAKE IT OR LOSE THEIR CASH. That will cause huge ripples. Yes, we could still go Chap 11, but with a TA on the books and cuts from non-union people as well, most of any clean up will be with unsecured debt. Sure, other things could be changed, but according to an SEC filing Delta just made---it stated that should the pilots ratify at possible TA---some of the understandings will be made binding (meaning will not change unless a certain cash level is hit---most likely) (I will find it for you---look at bottom of page) I do not know what these are, but you can bet that certain points will stand and that with the finacial books in order---the company will grow again. We actually can take away an extra $2 billion a year from the employees and compete better, and still have pretty good wages that could be used again if necessary.(hopefully NOT, but possible)

95 hours, huh? You are sure of that one, eh? Sick call will be at an all time high, and the carrier will soon figure out that 95 hours a month is not dooable---which United has already learned.


The 737-200s are currently our 100 seater and still used on certain markets. Do you think they will park them immediately? They parked them right after 9-11 because they chose to furlough the bottem 400 guys, and they were all at Delta Express flying 737-200s as FOs. They had to park them. The only planes we have scheduled to go by May of next year are 4 737-200s and 4 737-300s from SLC. The talk from Dean Bloom (Sys Chief Pilot) and Kolshack (VP of Flt Ops) is that we are looking at new 100 seaters to eventually replace the 737-200s---and this is with our bad credit. You OBVIOUSLY don't know what is going on in the inner circles over here.


Have we lost 21% of our manpower due to retirements you ask? Well, we have lost about 1000 Captains since last September (2003), and that is about equal to 20% of our total Captains, and about 13% of our total pilots. Add atleast 500 more, and that is a huge chunk. (It could be 700 more, or if all go 1200 more) Figured it out yet? How long does it take to train new Captains on new equipment? Got anymore questions? What you are not seeing here is that according to our "depeaked hub" plan, we are adding the equivalent of 44 new aircraft by just using our current ones more efficiently. Adding 44 new aircraft to the fleet would require more pilots, or if we increased the cap---probably the same amount or more if needed. If we increased the cap and did NOT increase the flying---then a furlough might be in order. The current plan, even with a Chap 11, is to increase the flying by depeaking the hubs and making the operation mroe efficient without buying new aircraft YET. That is the CURRENT plan---according to Grinstein, and that would probably be the plan if we had to exit a Chap 11 too---so we could make enough revenue to get profitable again someday.

It seemed to me that you were not looking for insight, but rather intent on insiting a riot.


Bye Bye--General Lee

PS--Here is the SEC filing, please read the last paragraph.

" Pilot Cost Reduction

Our cost reduction plans include a target of reducing our pilot costs by $1 billion annually by 2006 through a combination of changes in wages, pension and other benefits and work rules. We expect that at least two-thirds of the $1 billion will be attributable to pay reductions.

We are currently in negotiations with ALPA representatives with respect to restructuring pilot costs. To date, ALPA’s counter-proposals have been for substantially less than $1 billion of annual savings and for approximately two-thirds of the savings to come from pay reductions. In addition, to date, ALPA is proposing for pilots a stock option program that involves substantially more equity, and profit sharing and incentive programs that are substantially more generous, than the corresponding programs we have proposed. See “Employee Incentive Programs” below. The Exchange Offer is conditioned on our entering into, and the ALPA membership ratifying, a new contract with ALPA that provides, in our judgment, at least $1 billion of annual cost reduction by 2006 (before employee incentive programs as described below). If we are successful in negotiating a new contract with ALPA, the components of the savings may vary materially from our proposal.

We expect that any final agreement with the pilots will contain certain limitations on our seeking to modify the collective bargaining agreement if we subsequently file for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Code&#82210 ).
 
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General Lee said:
95 hours, huh? You are sure of that one, eh?
General, I don't think that he's figured it out that 95x12=1140hr/year. While perhaps some lines can be built to 95 hours, it's just not sustainable over a year.
 
A cap can be raised to 95 hours, but that doesn't mean all (or even most) line pilots will bump up against that. We have a 100 hr pay cap at ATA yet I very rarely come close to it. I probably average @ 80 hrs a month, and that's pretty much what the lines are built to. Also, when you take training and vacation months into account you don't have to worry about the yearly FAR limit.
 
Amazing-

Another "Delta's in trouble" style thread that turns into an rj bash by some.

Uhuh, the rj is the cause of Delta's trouble. It has nothing to do with ridiculously priced fuel, outrageous taxes, and diluted ticket prices. I won't even discuss Leo and company for getting Delta where they are today. Yup, it was all the rj.
 
General,
You kill me I come back from training only to read this


You OBVIOUSLY haven't been paying attention. We actually HAVE an expansion plan in the computers(RES), and that will NOT change. We are already selling seats for Feburary with 60 more flights a day from ATL alone.

I ask you to supply me the name of One airline that has EVER expanded after filing Ch11 and all you come up with is, It's in our computer system so it must be true. If that's what you want to hang your hat on so be it but I would sooner for reality. USAir, United and American have all reduced their schedule following their Ch11 or near Ch11 experiences.


If we actually go Chap 11---
Take a close look at last Wednesdays WSJ. The first caption on the front page. "Delta Chapter 11 imminent" or Thurs USA Today, Nidel stating, "it will happen in about a month" . The time has passed for DAL to avoid CH11.
IMHO, a behind the scenes deal has already been cut guranteeing DAL mgt favorable treatment if the wait until after the election.


even more of those 1270 or so pilots eligible for early retirement WILL TAKE IT OR LOSE THEIR CASH. That will cause huge ripples. Yes, we could still go Chap 11, but with a TA on the books and cuts from non-union people as well, most of any clean up will be with unsecured debt. Sure, other things could be changed, but according to an SEC filing Delta just made---it stated that should the pilots ratify at possible TA---some of the understandings will be made binding (meaning will not change unless a certain cash level is hit---most likely) (I will find it for you---look at bottom of page) I do not know what these are, but you can bet that certain points will stand and that with the finacial books in order---the company will grow again. We actually can take away an extra $2 billion a year from the employees and compete better, and still have pretty good wages that could be used again if necessary.(hopefully NOT, but possible)

95 hours, huh? You are sure of that one, eh? Sick call will be at an all time high, and the carrier will soon figure out that 95 hours a month is not dooable---which United has already learned.

Yes I am sure and you may want to get prepared for it. Lets talk fact. Both CH11 airlines are flying 90+ hours and AA in negotiations with the APA for a "soft 90"(voluntary pickup to 90 hours) and you come on here telling me that Greenjeans will be happy with 85. Not when his chief competition has 90 and above.


The 737-200s are currently our 100 seater and still used on certain markets. Do you think they will park them immediately? They parked them right after 9-11 because they chose to furlough the bottem 400 guys, and they were all at Delta Express flying 737-200s as FOs. They had to park them. The only planes we have scheduled to go by May of next year are 4 737-200s and 4 737-300s from SLC. The talk from Dean Bloom (Sys Chief Pilot) and Kolshack (VP of Flt Ops) is that we are looking at new 100 seaters to eventually replace the 737-200s---and this is with our bad credit. You OBVIOUSLY don't know what is going on in the inner circles over here.

I just don't chose to believe the crew room rumors. I live in reality. Things like the non CH11 AA coming out yesterday and announcing the parking of 15 MD80's tend to me take notice. If you think that the mgt is actually going to tips it hand prior to CH 11 you are naive. They are in negotiations with DAL ALPA. They are trying to paint the best picture that they can in an effort to get the union to lower the bar prior to CH11. This way they have a lower point to start from when they go and sit down with the judge but feel free to believe everything that the VP and the computer reservation system tell you. I'll go with reality instead.

Have we lost 21% of our manpower due to retirements you ask? Well, we have lost about 1000 Captains since last September (2003), and that is about equal to 20% of our total Captains, and about 13% of our total pilots. Add atleast 500 more, and that is a huge chunk. (It could be 700 more, or if all go 1200 more) Figured it out yet?

Yes, I did. You are still in a dream world. Just stop and look at AA or USAir. We have 3500 on furlough limit still has over 800 to go. The union is telling us 800 more is not a matter of if but when( not to forget the additional 123 that went out on 10/1). The soft 90 cap and yesterday's announced reduction of 15 aircraft, have not yet determined the total numbers to get furloughed. Yet you seem to think that a Ch11 filing, pref bidding, parking aircraft and an increase to a 90+ cap will equate to nobody getting furloughed. We have a better ballence sheet, concessions already in place yet we continue to park aircraft and furlough pilots.
Ok, I give up.

It seemed to me that you were not looking for insight, but rather intent on insiting a riot.

Take a look at miy original post and you tell me how it equates to a "riot"? Prior to your recent post I was under the assumption that you had some contact within DAl. Now I realize that you are (like myself) just a line pilot offering his opinion. My mistake.
Look be VERY clear on this. Having gone through a potential CH11, I do not with this upon anyone and only with you the very best.
I honestly hope that things go as you suggest but history has shown that one should be prepared for the worst.

Good Luck.
 
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G4G5,


Look, I know we are in dire straits, no doubt about that. But, why haven't we pulled the Chap 11 trigger yet? Those analysts you talk about have said we are under our comfort cushion of $1.5 billion in cash. What is the deal? Maybe it is because we are still "dealing." You and I both don't know if that is true or not.


As far as comparing USAir and AA to Delta----you really cannot. Sure, they are all airlines having problems, but not all of the same problems. AA bought TWA just before 9-11 and is now wishing they had not. A lot of AA's furloughs are ex-TWA people, and almost all of the TWA planes are parked or will be. Your STL hub is shrunk to the max, and it will probably continue. Had AA not bought TWA, the furlough numbers would be a lot less----it's true....

USAir had DCA (one of it's hubs) shut down for a long time after 9-11. They also never had an answer for the LCC invasion, and even though our Song has been a modest success (even those analysts agree to that and we are expanding it)--USAir has been paralyzed. Now Southwest is moving in to their pHL hub because there was an opening and they took it. They also have been in Chap 11 twice now, and we are teetering on the first entry. We will outlast them, primarily because we can still give up a lot of cash---which will benefit us as an airline (not my wallet).



And to top it off, something that you are failing to recognize again and again, is that we have a retirement problem. Yup, we have a mountain full of guys waiting to bail, and if we do hit Chap 11---more of them will. We have 1271 guys who are eligible to take their lump sums----and 450 of those have more than 25 years---or at least $1 million in lump sum alone. Would they risk that? I wouldn't. What would happen to AA if the top 400 Captains decided to leave? Thanks to the last TA--we won't park planes, but that would cause a huge ripple, even with an increased cap. Now throw in anoother 250 more Captains that have a large lump sum but not 25 years----and that would even cause more of a ripple. We also have had more than 600 Captains ALREADY LEAVE---we are very short in almost every ccategory right now, and we have already loaded the reservation system for FEB 1st with our new "super hub plan" for ATL and also increased flying in CVG and SLC---which equates to a 6% increase overall.


You came up with an interesting statement---"Tell me an airline that has increased it's flying after Chap 11.." Continental? America West? Both of those were in Chap 11 protection twice. Also, why don't you tell me a carrier that has "shrunk to profitability?" We could get the leases down to reasonable payments in or out of Chap 11, and then tweak the pay roll numbers for the employees, and trim some fat. We could move some debt payments around(restructure the debt---we are trying that now--trying to move the 2005/2006 payments to 2008) and fly more to cities that are not served by LCCs. (INTL) We could still have efficient hubs (like the super hub) and fly our own airplanes more throughout the day---using our equipment more efficiently. All of these things are being looked at by people that are smarter than you and I. Dalpa also has been watching this carefully---and I will follow them.


Bye Bye--General Lee
 
General Lee said:
G4G5,


Look, I know we are in dire straits, no doubt about that. But, why haven't we pulled the Chap 11 trigger yet? Those analysts you talk about have said we are under our comfort cushion of $1.5 billion in cash. What is the deal? Maybe it is because we are still "dealing." You and I both don't know if that is true or not.


As far as comparing USAir and AA to Delta----you really cannot. Sure, they are all airlines having problems, but not all of the same problems. AA bought TWA just before 9-11 and is now wishing they had not. A lot of AA's furloughs are ex-TWA people, and almost all of the TWA planes are parked or will be. Your STL hub is shrunk to the max, and it will probably continue. Had AA not bought TWA, the furlough numbers would be a lot less----it's true....

I agree the furloughs at AA would have been less. I guess what I am trying to say is. CH11's bring furloughs. This is where we differ, so be it. I hope you are correct but history has shown that I am not.


And to top it off, something that you are failing to recognize again and again, is that we have a retirement problem. Yup, we have a mountain full of guys waiting to bail, and if we do hit Chap 11---more of them will. We have 1271 guys who are eligible to take their lump sums----and 450 of those have more than 25 years---or at least $1 million in lump sum alone. Would they risk that? I wouldn't. What would happen to AA if the top 400 Captains decided to leave?

Again this is where you and I differ. The 1271 you mention will NOT all retire. Correct me if I am wrong but to be part of that 1271 you need to be over 50 and have 25 years of service. Alot of those pilots will be looking at income potential outside DAL, many will be going to their financial planners and asking very important questions like.
Can I afford to retire?
Many pilots are not in a financial position to retire, college, divorces, mortgages, whatever it is. Many will chose to work for and additional 10 years because they can not replace the paycheck even with the cutbacks.

What happens when the FAA increases the retirement age?
If you are 50-55 and the FAA increases the age to 63-65 these pilots are now losing $180k-200k jobs for an additional 3 -5 years. Odds are they can not replace that income. So the situtation for a 50 year old is, can I replace a $200k income for 15 years?

Then their are the groups of guys who just want to keep flying. You know who they are. "Sure I'll take the pay cut if I can keep wearing the hat"

The reality is plenty of guys would love to retire but many for whatever reason can't. So it's a bit optomistic to think that a huge percentage of the 1271 will retire. The run on the bank has already occured, the smart ones who are in a position to retire, already have.
While many will retire because they hoped that things would change or they needed a little more time get things in order, the numbers vacating will hardly be enough to compensate for the future furlough losses. Heck pref bidding will account for 10-15% with a pilot list around 7000 that equates to 700+ pilots. My guess is that's going to be approx the same number that retire early. Which still leaves parked aircraft, cutbacks, increased flying to 90+ hours.

Thanks to the last TA--we won't park planes, but that would cause a huge ripple, even with an increased cap.
"we won't park aircraft" is a bit optomistic, I hope you are correct but at AA we continue to announced parked aircraft, 15 more yesterday. Every CH11 airline has parked aircraft. Competition is only going to increase.

You came up with an interesting statement---"Tell me an airline that has increased it's flying after Chap 11.." Continental? America West? Both of those were in Chap 11 protection twice. Also, why don't you tell me a carrier that has "shrunk to profitability?"
Maybe you misunderstood me, even the above mentioned airlines did not expand after their ch11 filings. A ch11 by its very nature states that you can not pay your bills with your current business plan. You are telling you creditors you can't pay them.
While I agree you can not shrink to profitability BUT you can shrink to reduce losses which is what CH11 dictates you do. Take a very close look at what every major has ever done after they file. They contract to cut loses, cut wages and renegotiate leases/contracts with vendors and suppliers. No one has ever expanded. Once the company turns around, comes up with a viable business plan (like CAL and AWA) then they expand BUT that takes years.

Good Luck and enjoy, I am through.
 
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General Lee said:
You came up with an interesting statement---"Tell me an airline that has increased it's flying after Chap 11.." Continental? America West? Both of those were in Chap 11 protection twice. Bye Bye--General Lee
Thats the second time you've said that. Incorrect. America West has only been in Chapter 11 once. On another note, expansion came Looong after chapter 11. Both carriers contracted significantly after filing.

Murk
 

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