Delta to cut MEM by 25%, mostly RJs

[damnflyboy]

Unfortunately, the airline industries leadership has not been very pragmatic in their strategy for the future. They had every reason to plan for an believe that the 35/50 seat jet is a giant pink elephant on their balance sheets. I cannot quote the article, but an analyst from the ATA predicted that by 2017 when most of the CRJ/ERJ contracts are going to be up for renewal that less that 30% of those airplanes will still be flying.

Less of a prediction and more of a precident set:
SkyWest Inc will slash apart ASA/XJT before they even think about touching the SkyWest Airlines operation.

 

[damnflyboy]

...and notice who is hiring.

 

[cybourg10]

XJT is hiring 80 a month right now and ASA is hiring, I think we will be fine. Those MEM routes might shift up to LGA now that the slot swap might go through with USAir, or you guys might get more DTW flying on the 200. Stop assuming the world is ending every week.

 

[cbrown1]

...and notice who is hiring.

There is no conspiracy here. Asa/xjt are 80% 50 seat jets, skywest is less than 50% 50 seat jets. It's a numbers game plus our 50 seaters fly routes that are made for them out west and are split between 3 codeshares and lots of at risk flying. So yeah, you are right. I see xjt/asa losing flying before skywest but not because of some master plan to protect one airline over another.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

SkyWest doesn't do anything without a plan. I think Jerry bought ExpressJet to eliminate the competition, and packaged them up with ASA to slowly eliminate them both. Then SkyWest Airlines offers all the ex-ASA/XJT pilots preferential hiring on their former airplanes after the companies go out of business.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

That sounds about right. It's obvious folks- look at what's going on around you. Operationally we are falling apart. SkyWest doesn't care. They'll simply swoop in when Atlantic Southeast loses their contracts because of poor performance/not meeting cost targets. Right now, it's a matter of extracting maximum cash from us while barely meeting the targets set by UA and DL.

Since we are a mostly 50-seat operation, there is no way we can suddenly become a 400+ airframe company operating all -700/-900's. There isn't room in scope agreements for a 1/1 replacement scheme. The airline will wither and die as contracts expire, airframes fall apart or get sent to the desert because of fuel.

Have fun while it lasts, because we aren't SkyWest, and we never will be. Bottom line: there isn't room for 300+ 50 seat jets at one company going forward. DL is sending them to the scrap yard as fast as they possibly can. Just read the news, it's all there..

 

[BOX OFFICE]

I can tell you that scope will not be relaxed again. It's been widely publicized that 50 seat jets are going away very soon. The only way they can eliminate the amount of 50 seat jets DAL is talking about is by breaking a contract with one of the DCI carriers. Ask yourself now that Mesa is out of DCI who is the weakest link? Comair has already bled to death. I feel sorry for all of my friends still at ASA, but from everything I'm hearing over here, it isn't looking good for you guys.

 

[Flyer1015]

I honestly am starting to feel bad for the senior MEM squad at Pinnacle. Most of them are gonna face very tough choices as MEM shrinks even further. Of course, there's no way to know how badly they (or any of us) will be hosed by SLI. Should be a very interesting year, 2011, at 9E for sure.

 

[Medeco]

This is some pretty good entertainment.

Why in gods name would they be spending millions of dollars in a merger and on facilities in ATL, if the goal is what you all have imagined here?

You guys need to get a life outside and breath some fresh air.

We might shrink, but we are far from closing the doors.

 

[gator_hater]

Rats... I don't get to deadhead to MEM anymore and swap planes during all my 1:45 sits. That has been the best part of my job lately.

ASA will be ok for the near future we'll see what happens 5 years out.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

I'd say about 5-10 years from closing doors with steady decline until then. What's a few million bucks in transition costs to make a few hundred million until then? The execs have this all planned out and wont be blindsided or left out in the cold. It would behoove everyone else to see the writing on the wall so as to make a less painful exit.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

This was my fear of working at an airline with 300+ outdated jets. They are becoming maintenance and fuel nightmares and will ultimately drive costs through the roof and render us uncompetitive and fodder for pull- downs. Don't look for any renewals of contracts based on our horrible performance which is almost entirely self-inflicted.

They're too busy witht the merger to worry about their bread and butter. Too bad when that work is done DL and UA will be sending the bulk of our fleet to the glue factory slowly but surely.

Look on the bright side, at least there will be plenty of new beer cans available to drink away our sorrows.

 

[Medeco]

Some of you here on this thread were absolutely positive Skywest Inc. was buying ASA to shut the doors and take our planes.

What is similar now, that was then?

A contract to be negotiated and finalized, in a short term.

I have no doubt Delta is more than happy to help play the game for/with our management.

 

[777forever]

I can tell you that scope will not be relaxed again. It's been widely publicized that 50 seat jets are going away very soon. The only way they can eliminate the amount of 50 seat jets DAL is talking about is by breaking a contract with one of the DCI carriers. Ask yourself now that Mesa is out of DCI who is the weakest link? Comair has already bled to death. I feel sorry for all of my friends still at ASA, but from everything I'm hearing over here, it isn't looking good for you guys.

What exactly are you hearing? Only thing I've heard is the thread on airliners.net saying Delta is going to pull the performance card on Acey. Wouldn't be surprised but that is A LOT of flying to replace. OH one other thing, Jerry owns the leases to all the Delta gates on C & D. It would sure be interesting for Delta to start a gunfight with him on the eve of SWA coming into town. Tha more ya know!

 

[veneratio]

Don't worry, it's gonna be ok

 

[damnflyboy]

Hold me.

 

[LazyLightnin']

It's funny to go on the APC board and read the "Comair updates" thread that dates back to 2007. Things were looking pretty good for them when that thread started.

Comair: "I'm alive, I'm alive, dead"

 

[twott driver]

What exactly are you hearing? Only thing I've heard is the thread on airliners.net saying Delta is going to pull the performance card on Acey. Wouldn't be surprised but that is A LOT of flying to replace. OH one other thing, Jerry owns the leases to all the Delta gates on C & D. It would sure be interesting for Delta to start a gunfight with him on the eve of SWA coming into town. Tha more ya know!

Except for the fact that the gate lease agreement specifically states that if ASA (Skyw) no longer does flying for Delta, then those gates revert back to Delta. Apparently "Tha more ya know" does not apply to you?

 

[777forever]

Except for the fact that the gate lease agreement specifically states that if ASA (Skyw) no longer does flying for Delta, then those gates revert back to Delta. Apparently "Tha more ya know" does not apply to you?

If they cancel the 50 seat contract, ASA still flies for Delta. You're right though if Delta terminates the entire contract for 53 700/900s, and 98 200s, which would be entertaining(to say the least) to see how they sort out replacing their largest DCI carrier.

 

[ASAFOE120]

And not to mention we just became the second cheapest dci carrier. If looking to save money, why not go after the more expensive kids on the block? Delta has shown us before that they can get rid of an airline then shuffle the aircraft around.
Not wishing ill on anyone, just pondering.