DL low-cost carrier to be named "Song"

[MetroSheriff]

Well the website is a hoot.

 

[generaltso]

Not much on that website, but it is nicely done

 

[VFR on Top]

Perhaps it refers to the fact that you can fly for a "song."

Actually, I think it refers to what they'll be expecting the flight crews to work for.

 

[greg20]

VFR On Top said:

Actually, I think it refers to what they'll be expecting the flight crews to work for.

Actually, the flight crews are going to be treated exactly like DL mainline and are going to be paid current mainline wages.

 

[snowback]

The flight crews ARE Delta Mainline working under the same contract, with same work rules, pay and benefits. I'd guess the Song trips will be built into our regular trip rotations.

Everyone else will be employed apart from Delta.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Actually, I think it refers to what they'll be expecting the flight crews to work for.

Swing.....and a miss!!!!

 

[azpilot]

Maybe Song can take advice from AOL/Time Warner and lose 100 Billion dollars in one year. How the hell do you do that? Glad someone could top all of the troubles in the airline industry.

I agree that a unique name vs Delta X is a good idea. I don't see how they think they are going to save so much money using the same crews.

If folks are loyal to JetBlue they will do just fine.

 

[KingAirer]

Im going to go against the grain here and say I think they may do OK. They have or will have a comperable product to Jetblue, plus the benifits of codeshares, connections, FF miles, etc...As i mentioned before i think the whole new look, even it is a bad name, will help their chances.

 

[dmspilot00]

So with a name like "Song," are they going to have a "Theme song" to go with their airline? They can play it on the TV monitors in the 757. US Airways already plays this horrendously corny panflute music in the introduction to their safety video.

 

[VFR on Top]

The flight crews ARE Delta Mainline working under the same contract, with same work rules, pay and benefits.

Okay, then would somebody care to explain how exactly DL is going to make money with the same cost structure as mainline ops, more $$ spent on IFE setups, paint jobs, etc, but lower fares? It can't be solely load factors, I thought those were doing okay again (albeit on reduced schedules).

So with a name like "Song," are they going to have a "Theme song" to go with their airline? They can play it on the TV monitors in the 757.

They already do, it's on their website -- www.flysong.com. I've actually been listening to it in the background for the better part of the evening.

 

[snowback]

The link is to an article about Song.

The text is from John Selvaggio, President of Song. I've highlighted the part on pilot pay.


Orlando Sentinel Song Article

Delta hopes to keep Song's costs low by turning its airplanes
around in less than an hour, employing fewer flight attendants
and using its planes for 13.2 hours each day, which could lower
its cost per passenger by nearly a third compared with Delta's
Express unit.

Selvaggio said Song's lower costs will let it succeed in the same
business in which U.S. airlines failed. But analysts have said
Song's costs will probably still be higher than those at low-fare
rivals, because its pilots fall under Delta's current labor contracts
and will be more expensive.

Delta has no plans to ask Song pilots for wage reductions,
Selvaggio said, because similar efforts at other airlines had
failed in the past to produce real cost savings.

"We could have pursued an avenue that would have had a
lower cost structure for pilots, but it would not have been
sustainable," he said. He said Song's management was
searching for more ways to save costs through productivity
instead.

A few markets currently served by Delta Express may be
dropped from Delta and Song's route network, including Islip
airport on New York's Long Island, Selvaggio said.