Expressjet bumping ASA out of LAX with 10 ERJs

[Heavy Set]

A good friend of mine heard this from a higher up in Flight ops today. Where will the ASA RJs go next? Why would ASA lose the service?

 

[Tarzan]

Because ASA is trying to staff the the base from ATL. Getting AC in and out for MX as well as crews hasn't been very feasible. All the planes will come back to ATL until the next base opens and closes.

I'm glad XJT got it and not Mesa or Shaniqua.

 

[RJidiot]

My hats off to Express Jet. Their management took a difficult situation and seems to be coming out ahead. I don't know if the whole charter/point to point side show will work, but at least they aren't running around like a bunch of Chicken Littles. On top of it all, the pilots still have one of the best contracts out there. Too bad we don't have that kind of innovation and leadership in Atlanta. Enjoy your days off in SoCal.

 

[Speedtape]

I guess it had nothing to do with pay rates.

 

[whatitdoing?]

ExpressJet is flying it "at cost". No profit......

 

[ATRCA]

ExpressJet is flying it "at cost". No profit......

And you know that how? Get real, as if you have access to that kind of info. Your last name Semak, Nides or Ream?

 

[TNPILOT]

ExpressJet is flying it "at cost". No profit......

And you know this how? Nothing has even been announced! No company memo, nothing in the WSJ or any other news media source.

 

[wms]

Hey Rip, how was the nap?

 

[list2002]

I'm not sure yet whether we're coming out "ahead" in this whole maelstrom... but at least the mgmt is doing something. Crossing fingers.

 

[trip]

Heard Express Jet also tried to poach some flying from Eagle for "at cost". AA declined. I guess they will do what it takes to get their foot in the door.

 

[Rank&File]

Ouch!! Any time one commuter gets bumped out in favor of another, it's a sad day. Sad for the fact that lives are impacted and the affected carrier is left scrambling to place the jets with the pilots that go with them somewhere else.

However, if this was inevitable, ExpressJet couldn't have been a better choice. It's nice to know that Delta didn't choose the bottom feeder who was able to provide the lift on the backs of low wages. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out. They've worked hard to be a respectable carrier and their contract is something that I envy.

All of this goes to show that quality is still appreciated over price. Who knows what the deal entails, but for an airline that in-sources everything from the stitching on their seats to overhauls on the landing gears, costs must have been second in consideration. ExpressJet as a top quality feeder who is down on their luck must be thrilled at the opportunity.

If only my airline could diversify. I'd feel a lot better about my future. Good luck ExpressJet!!

 

[Superpilot92]

ExpressJet is flying it "at cost". No profit......

Prove it. I would love to see your information. but i am willing to bet that you are full of it. We could have put those planes in to the branded flying and turned some profit. Also do you think XJT mgmt would let DAL have 10 of our XRs at Cost when those are our bread and butter planes for the branded flying? Answer that one? I know the answer!

 

[blackbox]

How many planes was ASA operating in LAX?

 

[Sinca3]

6 CRJ200's with appox. 50 pilots

 

[ARR-Jay]

At Cost? That would place our remaing CAL cpa at cost as well. Doubt it. If the deal with Delta is true the cpa is likely close to what we have with CAL.

 

[BeachBummer]

In & Out burger anyone?

 

[flyboy06]

At Cost? That would place our remaing CAL cpa at cost as well. Doubt it. If the deal with Delta is true the cpa is likely close to what we have with CAL.

Actually it wouldn't. If you look close at the wording in CAL's 10-Q filing, it says more than 10 airplane for another carrier, we are using just 10. Just FYI.

 

[sflax]

Where is the announcement? Nothing yet, meaning it all rumors and BS.

 

[Superpilot92]

the at cost debate is BS. Maybe if it was 10 LRs, but it isnt its for 10 XRs. There is no way they would fly the XRs for delta at cost when we need those for the branded flying.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I'm surprised that anyone with any knowledge of the business is surprised by bidding to operate the jets "at cost." CHQ has been doing this for years and has built a successful business out of it. Some flying has been bid by CHQ below cost on a block hour basis and other airlines have paid to get flying (Air Wisconsin and SkyWest's ASA purchase serve as examples)

To explain, there are additional ways to get paid and most of the profits come from hitting performance bonuses. (The reason why Shuttle America left pax on the ground and rescheduled the airplane, more bonus money to be preserved elsewhere in the system) Some airlines want completion factor, other airlines want on time performance - you see small jet providers tuning their operations to make the most of whatever bonus money there is out there.

When Delta owned ASA, Skip Barnette was candid about ASA not being staffed to run in the top of the rankings because they knew that would cost more money. ASA's goal was simply not to be an embarassment. Under SkyWest and particularly in recent times ASA has visibly improved staffing and equipment standards to get the operation off the bottom and towards the top. I suspect that there is a correlation to the way SkyWest's deal with Delta is written.

The only slight surprise to me was the temporary nature of the base and the fact ASA relocated people instead of offering Tempoary Duty Assignments out of domicile. The moves must have been cheaper than the $1.50 per diem for a couple of months, or perhaps ASA thought once they were there probably they would get to stay (who knows). For those people who leased apartments, or bought homes, this really stinks.

SkyWest really needs to tell people at ASA what the plan is. People are bailing out of this place for anywhere due to the level of uncertainty about ASA's future. In a senioirty based profession it pays to be the first in line.