DAL Regional Feed?

[79%N1]

Speed....

You seem pretty emphatic when you say 90's coming to ASA. In an exchange I had with our boss over my concerns about the direction of this company, and the fact that they keep patting us on the back left and right, but no rewards seem to come, as we watch everyone else growing in out only playground.......I was told no 90's are coming to ASA, because our costs are too high, as compared to Pinnacle, Mesaba and Compass. I think the merger will be our downfall at ASA, as it opens the door for these NWA carriers. So, we are being overlooked for cheapness alone. I keep asking everyone to explain to me how the costs are calculated, and how we compare to the costs of others. Maybe our cost of operation is more due to the environment we operate in, as compared to others. Nobody has an answer, other than we are expensive.

Anyway, I'll cling to your enthusiasm and keep hoping that eventually something good will happen at ASA.

 

[Speedtape]

Speed....

You seem pretty emphatic when you say 90's coming to ASA. In an exchange I had with our boss over my concerns about the direction of this company, and the fact that they keep patting us on the back left and right, but no rewards seem to come, as we watch everyone else growing in out only playground.......I was told no 90's are coming to ASA, because our costs are too high, as compared to Pinnacle, Mesaba and Compass. I think the merger will be our downfall at ASA, as it opens the door for these NWA carriers. So, we are being overlooked for cheapness alone. I keep asking everyone to explain to me how the costs are calculated, and how we compare to the costs of others. Maybe our cost of operation is more due to the environment we operate in, as compared to others. Nobody has an answer, other than we are expensive.

Anyway, I'll cling to your enthusiasm and keep hoping that eventually something good will happen at ASA.

Legally, "OUR Boss" cannot tell you anything other than what he is telling you at this point. Mesa has lower costs than either Mesaba or Compass and it does not appear they will be a DCI carrier in the near future. After the merger is approved, we will have some opportunities. If you listen to all the Boyds of the Airline world, 50's will be replaced by larger RJ's. ASA has a good marketing agreement for at least the next 12 years. Hopefully, we all will have several new career opportunities beyond this Company in the next few years.

P.S. Does "Our Boss" equate to the Director of Flight Operations? If so, don't panic, his mantra is consistent--and he would like you to believe it for his own bonus reasons. Managers will always tell you that your costs are too high--that's their job.

 

[Speedtape]

That's true...but if we had settled earlier I believe we would have the original 900s that were transferred to Skywest.
I think things would be the same and we would have had to have settled for Zero net gain. But, at this point, we both can only speculate.

In addition, the higher pay and better workrules results in more people staying which compounds the longevity cost factor.
People are staying because no one is hiring. We lost about 365 pilots in 2007 to other airlines--about 1/4th of the work force and they were replaced by new hires at lower rates.

The only way to solve that is through "brand scope"....ALPA missed the ball on that however....Too late now....
Brand Scope is a pipe dream--just like a National Seniority List. Time to move on!

ASA won't go away....but it will get smaller.....

I totally disagree with the "get smaller." You'll see in about March.

 

[777forever]

Joe,

By default, you are going to the jet. However, after a few months you will wonder why you didn't bid it before. Life is good at altitude and an aircraft that has some reliability.

Off topic but, going from the ATR to the Jet is like going from SPAM to fillet mignon for dinner...The sim instructor was like, "you're going to feel like you're at a different airline"

 

[ohplease!]

Off topic but, going from the ATR to the Jet is like going from SPAM to fillet mignon for dinner...The sim instructor was like, "you're going to feel like you're at a different airline"

once the newness wears off, you'll miss the ATR.

 

[777forever]

once the newness wears off, you'll miss the ATR.

Oh of course Im going to miss it. Shoot, I miss flying a 172

 

[rf285]

Off topic but, going from the ATR to the Jet is like going from SPAM to fillet mignon for dinner...The sim instructor was like, "you're going to feel like you're at a different airline"

It's the same airline. I'd take the ATR any day over that POS CRJ. From a guy that has flown them both.

 

[Caspian27]

How many seats do they have in them? I know they originally came with 70 and thats what the SkyWest website shows. I have heard they are being converted to 76 seats though. Whats the status?

All of SkyWest's 900's are now configured with 76 seats.

 

[DoinTime]

All of SkyWest's 900's are now configured with 76 seats.

How many total are there?

 

[FixNFly]

Speed....

You seem pretty emphatic when you say 90's coming to ASA. In an exchange I had with our boss over my concerns about the direction of this company, and the fact that they keep patting us on the back left and right, but no rewards seem to come, as we watch everyone else growing in out only playground.......I was told no 90's are coming to ASA, because our costs are too high, as compared to Pinnacle, Mesaba and Compass. I think the merger will be our downfall at ASA, as it opens the door for these NWA carriers. So, we are being overlooked for cheapness alone. I keep asking everyone to explain to me how the costs are calculated, and how we compare to the costs of others. Maybe our cost of operation is more due to the environment we operate in, as compared to others. Nobody has an answer, other than we are expensive.

Anyway, I'll cling to your enthusiasm and keep hoping that eventually something good will happen at ASA.

79%,

Here's a thought...I know we just finished implementation of our current contract, but the contract length is only 3 years. Remember the adage "If you tell a lie long enough people will believe it".

Prediction: Now that performance is under control, we are going to here this "we are too expensive" mantra for the next 8 years while we live out our current contract and negotiate a new one.

 

[JumpersAway]

The contract lock in we have with Delta is predicated on cost. It's quite simple, either we are industry average for now, and 2nd cheapest two years from now, or we lose our DCI lock in for the 80% and 15 year agreement. Honestly, right now, it's not looking good with Compass, Pinnacle, and Mesaba in the mix. We may have gotten hosed by the merger.

I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again- Those 900's that Skywest is flying were OURS. On the taxi out when they just started showing up, there was one in front of me with an "EV" tail number and the "Skywest" logo. I'm 100% sure of what I saw, and no one will convince me otherwise.

The only reason we haven't lost aircraft due to cost structure is due to our performance. Right now, our high number are saving our bacon- pure and simple. Yet some want to start a slow down because we aren't getting new airplanes. Sure- slow down and let me know how that works for you in a few months......

In regard to ALPA- there gets to be a point to where it's not about what WAS done, but WHAT DO WE DO NOW! Would things have been different had we had a crystal ball? Perhaps....but how about we do what we need to now- which is run an on time airline, work WITH management to help ensure the long term success of this airline and it's pilots, and concentrate on flying the aircraft we have NOW. Delta will have to worry about where they stick their airplanes, and we have no say in where they go.

After Skywest got those 900's, we were never promissed new airplanes as a result of reaching a T/A. We weren't lied to- we were just told that we were "competative" with this new contract.

 

[wms]

Joe,

Were you left behind? It appears you got a nice raise, signing bonus, and a rig like everyone else.

Who was left behind?

We never had 900's. At least I never saw a single one on the ramp. However, we did have ATR's!

By default, you are going to the jet. However, after a few months you will wonder why you didn't bid it before. Life is good at altitude and an aircraft that has some reliability.

The 42 pilots who got paycuts were left behind.

Directly from BH. We had two offers for the -900s. The first time we declined them because we didn't want to give up two 50's for each -900, and the second time because the new DAL mgmt are former NWA mgmt and they wanted them to go to a NWA WO.

Now fuel costs over-shadow labor, and the best thing we can do is save every second of APU and engine fuel burn possible. Pass-through fuel cost is a factor DAL can and will look at when considering our contract.

DAL does like ASA a lot and is impressed with our performance. We now have to put that same effort into our fuel savings.

 

[79%N1]

Won't matter. ASA is the 4th lowest cost lift provider, among the current DCI portfolio. Add Mesaba and Compass and ASA is the 6th lowest. We are waaaaay down on the list to get any new airframes.

 

[SSDD]

Jumpers,

I don't have a problem with the rest of your post. But I do question your airplane recognition skills.

Skywest has 17 CRJ900, and none of them has ever been registered with an EV tail number. You probably won't believe me, so you can search the FAA database. All of them went from the temporary factory canadian registration, to an SK tail number.

Were the 900's destined for ASA? I don't know. But I do know that none of them ever had an EV registration.

 

[DoinTime]

Won't matter. ASA is the 4th lowest cost lift provider, among the current DCI portfolio. Add Mesaba and Compass and ASA is the 6th lowest. We are waaaaay down on the list to get any new airframes.

How is it that you guys claim to know what the costs of doing business are at all these carriers? How do you know that ASA is more expensive to run than Mesaba? Personally, I think its a pretty far fetched idea that Mesaba can operate 17 CRJ-200s cheaper than ASA can operate 110 of them regardless of a pilot contract.

If you have studied knowledge of the balance sheets on these carriers please identify that. If your just an armchair executive please make that known so we can ignore you.

 

[JumpersAway]

Jumpers,

I don't have a problem with the rest of your post. But I do question your airplane recognition skills.

Skywest has 17 CRJ900, and none of them has ever been registered with an EV tail number. You probably won't believe me, so you can search the FAA database. All of them went from the temporary factory canadian registration, to an SK tail number.

Were the 900's destined for ASA? I don't know. But I do know that none of them ever had an EV registration.

I don't need to search the FAA database- I know what I saw......it taxied right in front of me. I still remember the anger I fealt. Say what you wish, what you found on the FAA website, etc- I know what I saw, and I know my aircraft types.

 

[sweptback]

I don't need to search the FAA database- I know what I saw......it taxied right in front of me. I still remember the anger I fealt. Say what you wish, what you found on the FAA website, etc- I know what I saw, and I know my aircraft types.

Are you sure it wasn't a 700? SkyWest operated 4 former ASA birds, originally with EV tail numbers although they were later re-registered to SK.

 

[Speedtape]

Are you sure it wasn't a 700? SkyWest operated 4 former ASA birds, originally with EV tail numbers although they were later re-registered to SK.

It was most likely 701EV.

 

[Speedtape]

How is it that you guys claim to know what the costs of doing business are at all these carriers? How do you know that ASA is more expensive to run than Mesaba? Personally, I think its a pretty far fetched idea that Mesaba can operate 17 CRJ-200s cheaper than ASA can operate 110 of them regardless of a pilot contract.

If you have studied knowledge of the balance sheets on these carriers please identify that. If your just an armchair executive please make that known so we can ignore you.

You are exactly right in your post!

They believe what they are fed--tribal rumors from tribal chiefs that don't have their best interest at heart. It seems that about 2 years ago, I remember alot of this "cost too high" mantra being spewed by Brian L. and then the CEO until some of the pilots called B.S. on them and let them know that they were full of H.S. At some point, they stopped coming in because pilots were doing their homework on some of the DOT reports that published financial info that they supplied, that was in direct contradiction to what they were trying to sell in the crew lounge.

 

[777forever]

Word on the street is Delta is using the Freedom 900s as bait to get rid of 50 seaters. Anyone who wants the planes can have them as long as they give up 2 50s per plane....

Most rumors say the planes are most likely headed to......Mesaba....