ExpressJet to fly for....American

[Burt Reynolds]

UH YES! They do continental connection flying out of LAX. They are in the Continental magazine.

So you are right!

Travel Area for Mileage Accrual: All Continental code-share flights connecting over Los Angeles, CA (Connect through Los Angeles, CA, to Fresno, Monterey, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, CA. Flights must be ticketed as Continental.)

Tell you what. You can have these 5 Saab flights and Eagle will take delivery of 50 more jets to cover the "new" flying. Deal?

 

[Auburn_CFI]

To further this rumor, Thomas Horton was just named CFO of American Airlines on March 29, 2006. Until this date he was on the Board of Directors for ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. It is rumored that he went to American and was very interested in forming a relationship b/w the two companies. Take it for what it is worth.

 

[airjackson]

Exactly. I've heard this rumor as well and believe there is some merrit to it, although I don't know about the number of airplanes.

If this happenes, this will be very different from the XJT-CAL-CHQ deal.

1) We would not be taking airplanes away from Eagle or any of the connection partners. Neither do I believe we would replace one of the connection partners.

2) I'm sure that AMR is interested in our XRs, of which XJT is the sole operator. We also have experience with Mexico flying, including some infrastructure there, that they would love to utilize. AMR should realize by now that there is a market there that they can tap into from DFW and LAX and might "hire" us to do that.

I can understand that Eagle guys would be upset because this "new" flyin won't be done by them, but I wouldn't call it stealing.

Nevertheless, I'll be the first to say that I wish it would never come down to this. I wish we could do just our CAL flying and Eagle could do all AA flying.

Don't waste your breath, some of the Eagle guys will still be ranting about "stolen" flying, etc.

When TSA began doing flying out of STL for AACONNECTION (all of it the former TWE flying) the reaction was swift and loud.

 

[temcgrew]

So, this is different than the "whores" who were BIDDING on the CAL flying?

I hear all sorts of justifications out there from the expressjet guys now and heard plenty of threats to all of us who were trying to get your flying.

because we all know it was "us" pilots lobbying CAL for it.

 

[paid4training]

To further this rumor, Thomas Horton was just named CFO of American Airlines on March 29, 2006. Until this date he was on the Board of Directors for ExpressJet Holdings, Inc. It is rumored that he went to American and was very interested in forming a relationship b/w the two companies. Take it for what it is worth.

You sir are very correct...here is the link

http://investor.expressjet.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130007&p=irol-newsreleasesingle&t=Regular&id=838294&

 

[Jetlink]

So this is ironic. When CO announced that they were gonna be using Mesa, everyone was up in arms about taking flying and the like. Now that ExpressJet is in the same barrell AMR, people seem to be ok with it. Come on people, let's see the forest for the trees.

Believe me, if this happens there will be a war between AMR and Eagle. There's no doubt in my mind about that.

Well yeah, CHQ - Mesa, easy to get confused...very similar "styles" you might say.

The difference here is...and lets let this one sink in...the "taking" of flying, or simply the lack of expansion of Eagle, is being "taken" by an industry leading pilot group (i.e. pay and contractual provisions at XJT). Therefore, as far as I am concerned, this is a huge step in the RIGHT direction for a change.

XJT seems to be able to keep costs down in all aspects of its operation, and from what I have seen runs a very tight and efficient ship. So the efficiences of XJT operations allows for an industry leading pilot contract, what a novel idea.

XJT wants an operating margin of 10%, where CHQ and others would shrink that profit margin to .5% or 1% to get the business, none of which is good for the long term viability of that particular company, nor the lives of the people (pilots) that provide for that to happen.

Judging from the letter released by Bedford to the "associates of Republic Airways," the deal with CHQ and CO has fallen apart.

Industry leading contract, second from last in operating costs, and only Mesa beats us as cheaper in operating costs. I assume that is because their pilots don't like to get paid to fly airplanes judging from their contract and pay scales.

 

[Jetlink]

So, this is different than the "whores" who were BIDDING on the CAL flying?

I hear all sorts of justifications out there from the expressjet guys now and heard plenty of threats to all of us who were trying to get your flying.

because we all know it was "us" pilots lobbying CAL for it.

Absolutely yes. See above post.

 

[paid4training]

okay..I am going to get some chips and beer 'cause this is going to get GOOD!!!!!:beer:

 

[temcgrew]

well, if AMR is willing to spend MORE money on a regional contract because of better service then TSA is screwed!!! (just kidding, I'm sure we are top notch)

 

[flyer172r]

well, if AMR is willing to spend MORE money on a regional contract because of better service then TSA is screwed!!! (just kidding, I'm sure we are top notch)

CHQ's bid for the Continental flying was more expensive than TSA's bid, yet look who got that contract.

 

[Truckdriver]

So, this is different than the "whores" who were BIDDING on the CAL flying?

I hear all sorts of justifications out there from the expressjet guys now and heard plenty of threats to all of us who were trying to get your flying.

because we all know it was "us" pilots lobbying CAL for it.

It's a little different because AMR has not told Eagle that XJT will take 69 of THEIR airplanes and put XJT pilots in them to do flying Eagle is currently doing. IF XJT flies for AMR, it will be flying that is not currently done by Eagle. Places like DFW-BOI that AMR was not able to do because they couldn't fill up a 700 will possibly be done by XJT in an XR because they might fill it up. Eagle cannot do that route in anthing but a 700 because their ERJ's don't have the range.

 

[Jetlink]

well, if AMR is willing to spend MORE money on a regional contract because of better service then TSA is screwed!!! (just kidding, I'm sure we are top notch)

Well, sometimes that old saying "you get what you pay for" actually does mean something. No one knows what AMR is going to pay for the XJT contract. Like I said before, when you have lower operating costs in all other aspects of your business, you can pay your people more. Kind of the Southwest philosophy...highest paid 737 pilots in the country, yet some of the lowest paid employees in all other aspects...is that the pilots fault?

We, unlike CHQ or Mesa, have hard numbers that cannot be fudged to "get" a contract in false light. ACARS, dispatch reliability numbers, on-time performance (although this has to do with CAL operations folks....we have numbers for both our run outstations and CAL run hub/outstations), extensive network of maintenance locations, unsurpassed in any other regional carrier, and over 1100 mechanics that keep our 99._ something dispatch reliability a reality, and something we can negotiate with.

Canceling flights costs money, we just avoid it at all costs. I haven't flown an airplane with an open MEL in over two months. There is a reason for this. I did have an airplane several weeks ago that was not going to be able to get fixed right then...what happened? We had an aircraft swap. They brought us another airplane that was available. Most regional carriers do not have the luxury of this aircraft availability...most any other would have just cancelled the flight. We went out 1 hour late, but we went out.

Lets say that was a CHQ flight operating for CAL. I highly doubt they would have had the resources to swap the aircraft, particularly if they are operating only a small number of aircraft for CAL in the first place.

 

[EMBPILOT1]

IF and only If this is true, then yes, COEX is no different than CHQ and TSA and Regions Air or whoever they are. None of the companies above took any flying away from Eagle, yet all of the above were treated as if they had sold their souls to the devil himself. You guys can try and justify this all you want, but you will be taking away upgrades and routes that I am certain Eagle guys think is "theirs".


What comes around go's around right? If this goes through, get ready for some slammin. I think I will go get a beer for this.

 

[dickburns]

Everyone on here needs to grow some and get a job flying freight. It will make you a better pilot.

 

[paid4training]

IF and only If this is true, then yes, COEX is no different than CHQ and TSA and Regions Air or whoever they are. None of the companies above took any flying away from Eagle, yet all of the above were treated as if they had sold their souls to the devil himself. You guys can try and justify this all you want, but you will be taking away upgrades and routes that I am certain Eagle guys think is "theirs".


What comes around go's around right? If this goes through, get ready for some slammin. I think I will go get a beer for this.

[URL="http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:h7IGB_CSGuBoxM:www.amgmedia.com/freephotos/beer-glass.jpg"]http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:h7IGB_CSGuBoxM:www.amgmedia.com/freephotos/beer-glass.jpg[/URL]


Here the first on is one me....:beer:

 

[Jetlink]

IF and only If this is true, then yes, COEX is no different than CHQ and TSA and Regions Air or whoever they are. None of the companies above took any flying away from Eagle, yet all of the above were treated as if they had sold their souls to the devil himself. You guys can try and justify this all you want, but you will be taking away upgrades and routes that I am certain Eagle guys think is "theirs".


What comes around go's around right? If this goes through, get ready for some slammin. I think I will go get a beer for this.

Upgrade times?? At Eagle?? LOLOLOLOLOL....ohhhh, yeah...thats a good one.

Maybe its that flow-back provision they have there at Eagle.....hmm....because their flow-through provision SUCKED big time.

Why didn't AMR buy XR's so they could actually fly the routes they want flown? They still could if they wanted too.

It is easy to slam those who's company "takes" flying when that pilot group isn't paid the highest. Its not so easy to do when a company who's pilot group does have the industry leading contract is awarded the flying.

Hey, I was kept out of "upgrading" for 3 years because we had a little thing called a flow-back provision that let CAL pilots flow on back down should there be a furlough, and there was. I wasn't happy about it, but its hard to argue with a deal that is contractual, I knew it existed when I got hired, and lived with it.

CAL flowed roughly 450 back to Express, maybe more I can't recall off-hand, but CAL has "flowed-through" nearly 1800 pilots from Express to CAL. I'd say that was a pretty good deal, at least for the 1800 or so and now those behind them all who "moved up" the ladder.

I will always believe that a strong small jet provider who has a close relationship to one "mothership" is certainly more beneficial to all rather than a piece-mealed system of redundant providers, but who am I but a lowly pilot

XJT is not taking away "routes and upgrades" that Eagle believes should have been theirs. Eagle voted their contract in. They have to live with it's realities. If you were hired at Eagle in the last 10 years and you didn't expect 12 years in as an FO, then please tell me how you passed the drug test because the main reason I never applied to Eagle, although they had the best base structure, is because even I knew and had heard from those there, that it certainly was not "the place to be."

 

[beechcowboy]

This whole thread is gay. As long as we, as pilots, don't accept less to gain more, then we have done our civic duty as far as I am concerned. Bottom line, its a dirty azz business, and nobody wins. If we go in and say we will work for less to do Eagle's current routes, then that would be a bit underhanded, in my opinion that is.

 

[beechcowboy]

Oh yeah, and guys, I think we should stop bragging about having an industry leading contract... that could all crumble at any given moment. Just be happy that we have what we have, and be humble. In other words, take the high road.

 

[gkrangers]

Oh yeah, and guys, I think we should stop bragging about having an industry leading contract... that could all crumble at any given moment. Just be happy that we have what we have, and be humble. In other words, take the high road.

It'll crumble if you let it.

 

[Elusive Napkin]

CHQ's bid for the Continental flying was more expensive than TSA's bid, yet look who got that contract.

I would really be interested to know how you came into contact with that information, considering all the bids were confidential. DO tell.......