xanderman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2002
- Posts
- 508
Big Beer Belly said:"Winners right now"? I guess I'm not following you. If you mean the 50% decline in quarterly profits last quarter versus last year ... a whopping $11 million ... is that what you are referring to? If fuel increases a nickel a gallon Airtran's barely visible profit disappears. With global oil consumption on the rise (NOT decline!) and US oil refining capacity running at 98.7% ... nearly all oil industry experts are predicting higher prices. Is that what you are touting as being a winner?
Surely you don't equate hiring with being a "winner", do you? Are Airtran pilots "winners" because such a large number of SCABS are employed there? I mean just what exactly is it that makes you feel like you are on a winning team? Surely the lack of progress in your contract talks can't be giving you that "winning" feeling. Wages and schedules at Airtran are not anywhere near industry leading ... so I fail to see where the "winning" connection is made there? In order to "win", you have to be better, not just "participate" in the same industry.
Are you getting paid to fly airplanes? Yes. But Airtran's pay is based on the smallest aircraft that qualifies for the majors. Definitely not a "winner" in the major earnings bracket. Furthermore, by all early indications, Airtran management does not appear likely to reward you with pay increases as would be expected for a "winning" team. International flying? Oops ... not a "winner" there ... unless you consider a few destinations south as the sum total of your "international" network.
Not too long ago, a single airplane crash nearly resulted in this company's liquidation. Though not the fault of anyone directly employed by the company, this event was so devastating to the precarious financial standing of the company that a name change was considered crucial to its survival (thus Valujet became Airtran). IMHO, this is illustrative for its financial implications and the very heavy debt load Airtran carries. By any measure, Airtran is heavily leveraged and dependent on an uninterrupted stream of income for its very survival.
While some may argue Airtran is a decent place to work, I fail to see where it hits a home run to become the "winning" ball club. Perhaps someone at Airtran can share with the rest of us why some feel this is the "winning" place to be.
BBB
Who is it you work for?