Holly Hegeman names GECAS as the Sugardaddy behind AWA/UAIR

[General Lee]

No, but I do know they leins against most of the spare parts. The planes have to go somewhere, and I'm sure GE will be there to sell them parts.

Are the engines "spare parts"? Do you know what you are talking about? Are you that guy on the GEICO commercial, the one that dances with the lizard?


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Publishers]

Someone said it was because they wanted to make money,,, hell they just want to survive this. Can you imagine the net effect on GE if U goes under.

 

[FDJ2]

No, but I do know they leins against most of the spare parts. The planes have to go somewhere, and I'm sure GE will be there to sell them parts.

Good two step. I know a man in your position can not be made to look rediculous, so keep on dancing.

 

[lowecur]

Are the engines "spare parts"? Do you know what you are talking about? Are you that guy on the GEICO commercial, the one that dances with the lizard?


Bye Bye--General Lee

I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you know, if you keep talking eventually people will begin to believe it. Afterall, a man in my position cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous.

 

[Inconceivable]

i would submit that the pauly shore icon makes anyone's credibility--strained

 

[General Lee]

I have no idea what I'm talking about. But you know, if you keep talking eventually people will begin to believe it. Afterall, a man in my position cannot afford to be made to look ridiculous.

Exactly. Finally you admit you don't know what you are talking about. But, you do do a mean "robot" dance in those GEICO TV commercials....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Mugs]

Not to be to self-centered. Ok maybe I am. I'm worried about being on the street if this deal goes through. Wouldn't that mean all of the furloughed uair pilots wouild be called back, immediately followed by furlough of lower seniority hp pilots. That is assuming that most of the uair pilots on furlough would go into the seniority list above me.

You sound like a junior UAL pilot 5 years ago. You bet you should be concerned about a deal with USair putting you on the street. I knew 5 years ago it would have done it to me at UAL with a USair merger. It is hard to get motivated about a deal that is going to kick you out the door. Have a "summer of love" about it though, and the press and other pilot groups will point the greed finger at you. Is a little history going to try and repeat itself in a new format?

 

[TWA Dude]

The junior union employees of the dominant carrier in a merger/acquisition will suffer the least. At this point I can't even fathom how an AWA/US merger could come to pass let alone who'd be the dominant carrier. If I were king I would create a new airline rather than make one dominant. I also wouldn't expect any furlough recalls since combined carriers usually need fewer pilots. At this point it's just idle gossip so I for one ain't getting my tighty-whities in a bunch.

 

[Mugs]

Agreed. All talk at this point. But of course it would be an ALPA-ALPA deal, if that means anything anymore.

 

[N905TW]

Say it ain't so.....

Is a little history going to try and repeat itself in a new format?

Oh good gosh not another merger/aquisition/extermination - I really don't want to get into the "You're a K-Mart pilot" arguments AGAIN..... Maybe it would be different this time, without AArrogAAnt ones involved?

"Two Great Airlines... One great... well... u know"

Of course... maybe we are all reading too much into this. It could be nothing, or simply a Code Share...

Maybe its just a smoke screen for the real AWA news... the merger with MESA....

Anyone have a working crystal ball? Mine is Deferred.

 

[Green]

I think it would be very hard for Us Airways to argue that their furloughed pilots should be recalled at the expense of gainfully employed AWA pilots. Alpa merger policy takes into account career expectations and avoids windfalls. The career expectations of a furloughed Us Airways pilot are unfortunately nill. Without a merger those pilots would take years to be called back whereas AWA is actively hiring and doing relatively well. I can't imagine a reasonable argument that would put furloughed Airways pilots ahead of any AWA pilot.

 

[fletch]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didnt U pilots agree to give up fragmintation rights, by a vote of 53%, in the last round of give backs? If so, how would this effect furloughed, or otherwise, U pilots IF there was some sort of merger?

 

[HAL]

Although I haven't been through a merger, I have been very close a couple of times, and both were ALPA-ALPA. The things the union stresses are 1) Career expectations, and 2) That no one group should have a serious gain over the other in terms of position or pay.

For those of you about to scream AA/TWA, remember that AA is not ALPA, and as the buyer in that merger called the shots.

My shot-in-the-dark guess is that if a HP/U merger did happen, the current USAirways pilots still flying would be evenly integrated into the AWA list starting at the top and working down with their current bottom guy flying (18 years or so with USAirways) matching the seniority level of our newest pilot (April 2005 hire date). As people retire and/or the new airline expands the USAirways furloughees would be brought back to fill the spots.

For those AWA guys nervous about it, remember that most of the USAirways guys are into their last few years before retirement, causing a lot of upward movement once they have gone. We'd be moving back up to our old seniority number at a much larger airline. Also, as the purchasing airline (as I expect AWA would be) there would be some furlough protection for current AWA pilots.

This is just a guess, but about what I'd expect from a large ALPA-ALPA merger. It says nothing however about what the financial ability or stability of the new airline would be. That is many levels above my pay grade. Good luck to all.

HAL

 

[storminpilot]

http://biz.yahoo.com/deal/050415/usairwayssearchesforcash.html?.v=1





US Airways searches for cash
Friday April 15, 5:00 am ET
By Lou Whiteman

The airline industry is abuzz with talk that bankrupt US Airways Group Inc., in search of funding needed to complete its reorganization, is in talks with America West Holdings Corp. for financing that could speed the pace of consolidation in the domestic airline sector.

US Airways already has secured commitments for $125 million apiece from small-jet operators Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp. and Republic Airways Holdings Inc.

Industry sources said that Tempe, Ariz.-based America West, operator of the nation's eighth-largest airline, could be interested in providing the remainder of the funding US Airways needs. Any deal between the two companies would probably fall well short of a merger, with the airlines likely agreeing to a code-sharing alliance to coordinate schedules and sell tickets on each other's flights.

US Airways said in a written statement that, given high fuel prices and the weak revenue environment, "We would expect that all airlines are exploring ways to remain competitive," although the company refused to respond to speculation regarding potential investors and business partners.

An America West representative also declined comment. In recent months, however, the company has been a vocal advocate of industry consolidation. CEO Douglas Parker in February told a group of reporters that there are "too many seats flying around in our industry," adding that he believed America West would "play a part in consolidation when it happens."

The company last year examined investing in bankrupt ATA Airlines Inc., an airline that eventually signed an equity and code-sharing deal with Southwest Airlines Co.

Industry analysts said America West could certainly benefit from boosting its presence on the East Coast, home to many of the most trafficked, and most lucrative, domestic markets. The company has a strong West Coast franchise thanks to its hubs in Las Vegas and Phoenix but has had a diminished presence in the East since shutting its small hub operation in Columbus, Ohio, in June 2003.

The company today primarily flies to Eastern cities only from its Western hubs. US Airways, by contrast, does very little flying west of the Mississippi River. Both airlines have also been expanding southward, building routes to tourist destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Another link between the two companies is Phoenix-based Mesa Air Group Inc., which operates small-jet services under both the US Airways Express and America West Express banners. Mesa has strong ties to America West, having participated in that company's 1993 reorganization. It also potentially has a lot to lose in a US Airways reorganization, as Air Wisconsin and Republic could take flying opportunities away from Mesa if they invest money in the company and Mesa stays on the sidelines.

But there are a number of hurdles that would stand in the way of a deal between America West and US Airways. It is unclear that America West could afford to invest in another carrier without outside help. J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. analyst Jamie Baker said last week that the airline could face a cash crunch of its own by year's end.

America West, which ended 2004 with about $300 million in unrestricted cash and investments, could see its funds drop to about $60 million this year if oil prices remain high. Baker estimated that the airline would need to raise a minimum of $100 million to avoid problems.

An industry source suggested that America West might turn to a private equity investor to raise a comfortable cushion for itself and money to put into US Airways. Or a fund could invest directly in both America West and US Airways and let those companies work out an alliance on their own.

Another issue would be US Airways' existing code share with bankrupt United Air Lines Inc., like US Airways a member of the international Star Alliance. United has one of the strongest route networks in the western U.S.

US Airways is unlikely to do anything to jeopardize its membership in Star, the source said, which brings the company important feeder traffic from trans-Atlantic flights by partners. But United, which is undergoing its own reorganization, would presumably hate to see US Airways passengers transferring to a rival's planes instead of its own.

 

[BeCareful!]

I can't imagine a reasonable argument that would put furloughed Airways pilots ahead of any AWA pilot.

DOH, perhaps? Or is that not "reasonable" enough?

 

[DLslug]

Where's this thread going anyhow?

General Lee and Lowecur...can't we all just get along?? Why don't you two kiss and make up?


All for now,

DLslug

 

[~~~^~~~]

General Lee and Lowecur...can't we all just get along?? Why don't you two kiss?

DLslug

YYYYEEEEIIIIICCCCKKK - What a visual.

 

[xrated]

Anyone have a working crystal ball? Mine is Deferred.

I believe the next BIG "merger" will be Southwest and Aeroflot. Southwests large 737 fleet compliments Aeroflot's TU154 fleet well. Every airline has been trying to break into the Nizhniy Novgorod-Stringino, Russia market. Here's their chance. And we all know darn Southwest, they allways seem to find the money making routes people want to fly.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Look to Mesa, GECAS, Air Wisconsin and Republic for a new deal. They will work together or individually with outside investors on some sort of deal. Maybe the USAir/UAL codeshare will fall apart in the process. Maybe it will just be modified.

No crystal ball but just following the money. USAir and UAL need money. They won't be brokering any deal without a partner with money.

 

[B6Busdriver]

I think it would be very hard for Us Airways to argue that their furloughed pilots should be recalled at the expense of gainfully employed AWA pilots. Alpa merger policy takes into account career expectations and avoids windfalls. The career expectations of a furloughed Us Airways pilot are unfortunately nill. Without a merger those pilots would take years to be called back whereas AWA is actively hiring and doing relatively well. I can't imagine a reasonable argument that would put furloughed Airways pilots ahead of any AWA pilot.

Yeah right. The guy who has been at HP for a month deserves better seniority than the 15 plus year guy on the street? Don't even get started on this untill the deal is done. It's a waste of time and only creates hostility. Believe me I know.