**HEADLINE SKYWEST to fly USAir RJs***

[KFFA]

The talk in Salt Lake City besides who won the gold today is that SkyWest is talking with USAir mang. about us flying CRJs in USA colors. The deal that we are hearing is that 50% of the crews will come from USAir pilots that are on furlough. The other 50% will be growth for SkyWest. Next thur. our chief pilot is coming to SLC for a meeting about this. I will keep you posted. Don't know any number of RJs or bases or destinations??? Seems like SkyWest is planning a backup plan if United doesn't make it. Who knows whats going on?

 

[Tim47SIP]

Dought it is a backup plan for the bug U as they will be around longer that US. Seems almost like a risk to go with US but maybe Skywest knows something no one else does? Great news for you guys out there. Me thinks Mesa's new Freedom Air could be involved to. Time will tell.

 

[~~~^~~~]

What an interesting rumor. This sort of fits with another rumor I heard that Skywest management wants ALPA on the property, if this deal happens, so that ALPA is stuck with the problem of seniority integration - where US Air pilots have superior rights to pilots already in the employ of Skywest. How completeely bizzare. Where is Andy Neil, he knows Skywest stuff.

The only part of this that makes sense is that Skywest has the financial moxie to swing the deal and Delta Connection has 104 aircraft on firm order and 396 options that they can not accept due to ALPA's restrictions. Those aircraft have got to go somewhere... if Delta can sell the delivery slots at a profit, they probably would.

 

[NEDude]

I am hardly the expert here, so I could be blowing smoke. But I thought, being as much in the loop as I can as a furloughed Mesa pilot, is that Freedom air is going to be in the America West system with the CRJ 700/900. I don't think Freedom air will have anything to do with USAirways. Which of course will make even more of us Mesa guys pissed off if Airways pilots begin flying for Freedom Air. Because of USAirways, In order for us to fly the 700/900 for America West, we have to create a new company, and now Airways wants us to put their furloughed pilots ahead of us to fly these 700/900s for America West?! Why does ALPA think this is fair?

 

[Andy Neill]

~~~^~~~,

Andy Neill (2 L's please) has a little more discretion on when to discuss in-house matters and when not to than does KFFA.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Because of USAirways, In order for us to fly the 700/900 for America West, we have to create a new company, and now Airways wants us to put their furloughed pilots ahead of us to fly these 700/900s for America West?! Why does ALPA think this is fair?

Answer: Because ALPA national, despite being the exclusive bargaining agent, is unwilling to provide leadership & restraint to the major MEC's. Without effective national leadership, each major MEC is using ALPA national's exclusive representation for their own individual agendas.

Without rules (or even enforcement of the rules that do exist) ALPA is simply allowing the mainline MEC's to engage in predatory bargaining at the expense of minority members.

Andy - look forward to your input when you feel it is appropriate.

 

[AWACoff]

Andy...and I thought I was the only one who didn't like airing out company laundry. Drop us dibs on stuff that actually comes to fruition Andy.

 

[flyplanes2000]

Andy-

Some people just don't know when to keep their mouth's shut huh?

 

[TailTwister]

Here's the latest rumor I over heard from an ASA FO. Honest folks, I was standing at the gate and this young gentleman was telling the gate agents that SkyWest was going to be purchased by United, and all of the Delta stuff will only be flown by Comair and ASA. I think he's got it all figured out, so with that in mind..... what's the name of that truck driving school again Mav? Take Care All!

 

[DairyAir]

rumors

If I hear one more thing about how wonderful it is to be at skywest or what market they will be taking over this week I am going to barf!

 

[strega7]

Dude!? What's with the negative vibe? What has SkyWest done to you lately?

???

 

[Beechnut]

Nothing. And that's the problem. The pilots ride the coat-tails of other carrier's hard won contracts. Step up to the plate SkyWest.

S.

 

[Smoove Ride]

i feel the need to set the record straight....
i'm not sure how you read KFFA's post, but here's my take on it.

this whole USAir/Skywest deal is bad news for Skywest. most of the pilots here at Skywest feel the same way (for the information we have so far). USAir tried to get the same deal with their wholly owned carrer's.... they said 'no', now they are trying to get their furloughed pilots into what would be 'our' jet's. what makes them think we'll accept it over them? i get to work with so-called 'junior' pilots to me who will be holding captain on the jet and making more money than me for the same job. screw that s**t. in addition, they have recall rights at USAir. do you think they'll give two sh**t's flying for skywest. this whole deal is just a bailout for USAir mainline.... and skywest is holding the bucket.

- sorry Andy... couldn't let it go. -sr.

 

[Tim47SIP]

Smoove, you are correct! But I ask another question, what happens when US goes under or doesn't recall those guys. Do they get to stay right where they are, on top of your seniority list? Normally the phrase is F*%k Up, Move Up concerning management, but for the US mainline fiasco it is F*%k Up, Move Over! I sure hope you guys can stop this debacle. Talk about ALPA dirty pool. What really gripes me about this situation is that US mainline pilots ensured that their contract scoped out the WO's and limited the number of RJ's in the conctract carriers. So now it is OK to get more RJ's because they have people on the street? Why arn't they sticking to their original plan since it was designed to "protect the profession". When and if all of those guys are back from furlough, does US have to ground the additional RJ's because that is what is convenient at the time?

 

[PIGHEEL]

Here is the way I see it:

Delta has already unloaded it's share of Skywest for $120 million.

Only connected in the route structure now.

Comair and ASA are buying all of these RJs.

Blk time agreement is exceeded already by Comair.

Comair is probably going to open up Dallas as a base.

Comair is hiring all of these new pilots.

Tells me that Comair is considering using Delta's muscle and Dallas, Salt Lake City hubs to go after Skywest's business.

 

[surfnole]

Pigheel,

Your conclusion makes sense. Why should Delta share any of its profits with Skywest when it could have them all?

Kind of like Microsoft crushing Netscape.

 

[Jetscream32]

Here is the truth plain and simple. The greedy Usair pilots will allow ANYONE to purchase the jets and fly under their colors as long as they get first dibs. Every regional is allowed to bid on the new RJ's.

On a different note. I don't work for skywest but ASA and Comair should be thankful that they up their contract every time you guys hammer out a new one. That helps to prevent them from underbidding on routes assigned by Delta. Just look at how messed up the Usair system is with everyone trying for an industry BOTTOM contract in order to get new routes and grow.

 

[MetroSheriff]

Here is the way I see it:

Delta has already unloaded it's share of Skywest for $120 million.

Only connected in the route structure now.

Comair and ASA are buying all of these RJs.

Blk time agreement is exceeded already by Comair.

Comair is probably going to open up Dallas as a base.

Comair is hiring all of these new pilots.

Tells me that Comair is considering using Delta's muscle and Dallas, Salt Lake City hubs to go after Skywest's business.

Huh?

Pigheel,

No offense, but from the content of your post, it would seem that you are not very familiar with the relationship between Delta and it subsidiary (DCI) carriers. Skywest doesn't have any business, so to speak. They are a code-share partner of Delta (DCI) and United (UAX).

 

[MetroSheriff]

Pigheel,

Your conclusion makes sense. Why should Delta share any of its profits with Skywest when it could have them all?

Kind of like Microsoft crushing Netscape.

Delta does not SHARE any profit with Skywest, they pay them a fee per departure. Revenue without the risk.

 

[Wowjack]

This all sounds like a big sh%t sandwich to me! Good thing you guys know more about this than I do; I'll just sit back and learn.