Delta Memo looking at planning for new narrowbody aircraft for MAINLINE

[General Lee]

Before anyone gets their panties all up in a wad, this says nothing about Delta getting new planes for domestic ops. It just says Delta is asking for proposals. What proposals Delta gets in the end may not be feasible for them to operate anyway. If I were a mainline guy I'd be worried that Delta will present this info to the pilots to show that mainline can't economically operate these planes so they want more scope relief for the regionals. The retirement of the 50 seaters is old news anyway so everyone relax.

Again, ummmm, what? A lot of the DL fleet is getting old. DL just got 36 MD90s as a stop gap, and those will be a bandaid until newer planes are available. Why is this hard to believe? I guess new CR9s and 777LRs are the only new planes out there for Delta? If you re-read the memo, it states Delta is interested in 100 to 200 new planes, with an additional 200 options. They could be the A320 family (A319s up to A321s), or maybe additional Boeings if they could bring up more efficient engines for the 737s. And, if they make a big order, they will probably work out some discounts, which would blow that theory away for you. They will make it economically feasable, or they won't get the full 200 plus 200 more options. Another thing that will help them is that our pilot group will be getting a lot younger as 2000 or so super senior (and highest paid) pilots start to retire over the next few years. They will be hiring like mad, and those new pilots will be on first year scale, which will be initially cheaper for them per hour. (it's called being a newhire) Add to that our eventual new pay raises (SWA 737 rates for our 737s, then up from there), and Delta will know what their fixed costs will be. Add the bag fees and all the other charges, and it will be covered. Heck, they made $1.2 billion this last year in fees alone. But hey, if you don't want it all to happen, then I suggest you say it loud and proud as you walk through the ATL terminals. Go for it.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

I didn't say they can't afford it, but when one pilot makes 1/2 what the other ones does, and the planes are nearly the same size, things start to add up.

-Factor in how much DAL mechanics, dispatchers, FAs, and so forth and so on make, and pretty sure you will find that wasting a whole lot of those people to support regional feed is not very smart. (For some of those guys, the pay difference is far greater than it is between pilots.)

It's cheaper because Regionals are scared. They don't know what to do with the 50 seaters, and they have started "at risk" flying to try to find routes that could make anything over the long run. But, as the memo states, so far they have parked OVER 70 RJs. It's like they are bragging, maybe it is cool to say that now? Businessmen like that.

You also have to remember that Delta just won A LOT when none of the other groups went union. All of them voted it down. That saves DL big bucks. That means they can spend a little more on us coming up here, and some more on planes.

And, you have no idea what could happen with scope coming up here. The CAL/UAL deal is huge, and I can assure you that we believe the same. We would like more of the 76 seaters on our certificate, and those payscales have already been negotiated. Add a few more % points to the pay in the next contract, and I think it possibly could be done. Then, when your contracts expire, we could find some of your cheap, used planes on the market, and hire some of you back maybe. It's whatever is negotiated.

BTW, it's awesome that you think it is cool that you guys are so cheap. FANTASTIC!


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[ACL65PILOT]

The memo was put out. Why?

Simple.

Negotiating in public. One or more of the aircraft manufactures are not offering deals DAL thinks they should get.

 

[KarmaPolice]

This memo basically sums up an answer to a question asked to a manager in Indoc this year. The question was, "Why isn't Delta purchasing 737's and busses to replace it's aging domestic fleet?"

They think that by holding out, using cheap MD90s in the meantime, they can get ahold of a newer more fuel efficient airplane that will give them a "next step" advantage over what is out there already.

 

[ePilot22]

Shoot! Wish I could get a mainline job...



eP.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Adding first class seats? The last couple times I have been on the A319 there were now 12 seats in first. There had been 16. When did 12 become greater than 16?

 

[makersmarc]

Adding first class seats? The last couple times I have been on the A319 there were now 12 seats in first. There had been 16. When did 12 become greater than 16?

This occurs through the magic of accounting.

 

[Jetjockey]

Shoot! Wish I could get a mainline job...



eP.

I bet.

 

[johnpeace]

General Lee, I got a company memo from my airline's CEO announcing that they had solved the staffing shortages by recalling all furloughs and hiring 72 more pilots.

The next memo I got was an offer for 200% premium pay to pick up a bunch of open time that was otherwise not going to be covered.

In the following weeks, I continued to watch staffing issues affect the airline's schedule.

 

[titans10]

It is going to get very interesting at the regionals.

 

[CFI2766]

Wait, didn't Box Office say DL was going to turn into an INTL only airline, with Comair or ASA flying all of the doemstic planes? It says here that Delta is looking at up to 400 new planes for DOMESTIC flying, and that doesn't count the relatively new planes we have received lately, like 737NGs. Oh well, what does she know anyway? She works for CHQ.


Bye Bye---General Lee

All the same, I'd MUUUUCH rather spend a four day with Box Office than with the General. She was never with CHQ, doesn't have 14 THOUSAND posts on FI, and if the stories are true, knew how to have fun on an airline trip.

bye bye.

 

[General Lee]

Joshua Freed, AP Airlines Writer, On Thursday January 13, 2011, 7:48 pm EST

Delta Air Lines Inc. is considering an order for as many as 200 jets -- possibly with options for 200 more -- to replace the aging fleet it uses for domestic flying.


Delta said it asked "several major aircraft manufacturers" for proposals for firm orders for 100 to 200 planes, with options for 200 more, with deliveries to begin in early 2013. No decisions about an order have been made yet, said Nat Pieper, Delta's vice president for fleet strategy and transactions. The request went to manufacturers in late December.
The new planes would replace Delta workhorses such as the DC-9-50s and Airbus A320s that it got when it bought Northwest Airlines in 2008, as well as Boeing 757-200s, which both airlines have operated.

CEO Richard Anderson said in a message to employees that Delta pilots will fly the new planes, not feeder carriers. Delta has shifted flying away from feeder carriers, and has gotten rid of more than 70 of its 50-seat regional jets and 25 Saab 340 turboprops. A jet order will give Delta the size of planes it needs "to be able to replace retiring airplanes and have modest growth when the economy and fuel prices support it," Anderson said.

He said Delta is looking for small, medium, and large planes in the "narrowbody" category, meaning planes with a single aisle for passengers.

Boeing Co. and Airbus, a unit of EADS, are the main manufacturers who could meet such an order, although Chinese and Brazilian manufacturers also plan new planes of the size Delta is looking for.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[General Lee]

All the same, I'd MUUUUCH rather spend a four day with Box Office than with the General. She was never with CHQ, doesn't have 14 THOUSAND posts on FI, and if the stories are true, knew how to have fun on an airline trip.

bye bye.

Wow, that is fantastic. I love the "and if the stories are true" part of your post.... Do tell........??


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[jesterjames]

I believe Mr. Anderson also once said he was "NOT" here to merge with Northwest. I dont believe anything management has to say.

 

[RJLoser]

Deleted