DHL Moving all to Wilmington

[ABXbooger]

DHL announced today that they are consolidating all of their freight sorting to the ABX sort at Wilmington. Wondered what any Astar guys think of this?

 

[On Your Six]

Time to buy a house in BEAUTIFUL Ohio!

 

[General Lee]

On your six,


CVG is close to Ohio----the airport is in Northern Kentucky. Probably not much of a move.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[On Your Six]

Whoops you're right - I meant beautiful Wilmington!

 

[JetPilot_Mike]

So what will happen to the brand new DHL facility at CVG? Seems like a giant waste of money.

 

[JECKEL]

Not really that much of a waste for DHL. The state of Ohio is pouring hundreds of millions in to the wilminton area and airport to keep the facility. Not to mention forthcoming tax incentives to keep everything the the state of Ohio. In the end it was a no brainer!

 

[Publishers]

ride

If you do not think that is much of a move, you have never been to Wilmington

 

[abxaviator]

Actually, Ohio's only announced direct spending will be to take over the construction of a highway bypass around Wilmington. This project was already planned by the county. The state is, however, also providing $100M in tax incentives and backing $300M in bond issues so DHL can shop for lower than standard interest rates.

Construction at the airpark is to start in a month or so with planned completion late next year. This will include added ramp space, sort facilities etc.

As for Wilmington, if one likes the small town life, it is quite nice. However, if one prefers a more metropolitan lifestyle there are several options; most of us locals live in Cincy, Dayton or Columbus all an easy drive to work. The vast majority of the ABX pilot group commutes with one of the BEST commuting policies in the industry.

 

[Bitter]

Does Abx still have guys on furlough? If so what are the prospects of recalls this year? How about newhires?


Thanks

 

[abxaviator]

We do still have 30 on furlough. Staffing seems to be very thin with junior-man assignments happening on a regular basis and flight standards pilots required to fly more. Mgmt. has been saying for some time they do not anticipate recealls at this time. I expect they will wait until the integration moves along to see how DHL alters the route structures. We are hopeful that expansion will occur.

 

[ABXbooger]

Yes, 30 on furlough, myself included. Of those, i would bet less than 20 will return. As per a chief pilot yesterday, no recalls until they hear from DHL in August, also admitted they are using junior manning to staff the airline and they are very short. Schedulers are screaming for bodies.

I do think even with route changes, the furloughs will be back to work by years end. There are close to 25 retirements next year and several still this year. I am optimistic, even doubling our market share would take us to 15% of the total market...easily obtainable. DHL is pumping in tons of money and Airborne never advertised, DHL is running prime time national TV ads.

We'll see, all my chips are in this game.

 

[ABXbooger]

Also forgot to say DHL is keeping the CVG hub as a "backup"? Don't know what that means. Wilmington is going to need a huge facelift from ramp space to increased sort capacity and automation. Should be neat to see.

 

[abxaviator]

DHL's announced plans call for $350M in improvements at ILN. Construction is to start in a month or so with planned completion late next year.

 

[steamgauge]

AStar pilots..

We generally don't care to change hubs three times in three years. But since we were spun off, sold a couple of times and FedUps tried to kill us more than a few times we've learned to go with the flow.

Threatened? Who isn't? I'd rather be here than a pax carrier though.

Personally, I just don't like all these old military airports and giving up the nice facilities we finally got but DHL's been jerking us around even since I went to work for them (back in the good old alleged pedophile days).

Other than that the job's the same.

 

[ABXbooger]

Steamgauge,

I think you will be impressed with ILN. Granted they are going to have to make some changes to the crew facilities with an increase of your group, so who knows. Wonder if they will keep the two groups seperate? There is a nice workout facility right at the crew room that a lot of people take advantage of. The airport iteself is simple and very functional, although once all the Astar planes are coming in it could get rather busy. Hopefully they will have to increase someof the day flying. Our ramp space is already much larger than at CVG, and they will have to increase that, should be impressive.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

is ILN still a private airport available only with PPR and official business or is there a place for people with business other than packages to land and park there?

 

[ABXbooger]

I believe it is still private, at one time it was the only private airport in the world with CAT III capability.

 

[JetBlast2000]

I realize that the situation is not great at this time. However, with the anticipated growth in the upcoming months/years, I’ve got a few questions. I used to ramp for ABX in my college days. Any suggestions on how to position myself for a job when the hiring starts? Would the ramp experience get me any kind of an in with the company…? Especially since it’s all DHL now.
Thanks,
JB2k

 

[steamgauge]

Astar Pilots...

Wonder if they will keep the two groups seperate?

I hope we don't let them keep us apart as we have very fundamental shared interests that require us to let go of the past and prevent DHL from working one group against the other.

 

[ABXbooger]

The whole blending of the two groups is going to be very tough, if it ever does happen. I am for it,as long as all of ABX's furloughs(<20) are brought back on the property as a condition. A question...would "they" let it happen?

Also... I am hearing from sources that DHL has told ABX not to park 2 DC-8's they where planning on parking and we are also taking delivery of additional 767's as we speak. Fleet is growing. Maybe this is foreshadowing of the route changes come August. I think they won't 'park' anything but will need all the lift for increased freight. (I hope!)