If it happens, how will the AWA or Airtran pilots integrate the ATA pilots;if at all?

[BigMotorToter]

Ok everyone,

It has to be on the minds of AWA pilots as well as Airtran pilots and especially that of the ATA pilots.

Its a valid question and this is not a question to start a flame thread.

Mergers, acquisitions, buyouts etc... have a big part and history with our industry and they affect us all. After ALPA and APA set the bar about as low as it could go, in regards to integrating two pilot groups, have pilots at other airlines learned from that event, or is greed going to take over the ranks of the pilots at AWA or Airtran?

Your thoughts?

 

[Breeze]

The way I interpret all the news and financial positioning.....Air Tran or any other prospect, is not proposing a merger, but a purchase of gate rights. Selling of assets i.e. the jets, will be handled separately by prospective buyers. After that the company is gone from what I've read. Going down the same road as US Air.

 

[mnboyev]

First, My sincere regards to all those at ATA. We'll all be driving cabs pretty soon if the airline biz doesnt turn around.

I never thought AirTran would try something risky like this... Maybe it will be more of a shared deal between multiple carriers. SWA, AWA, and AirTran. This would make more sense. But people.... Hmmm .... AWA and SWA will probably be in the best position to pick up most of the fine folks at ATA.

However, they merged before at FL... (way before my time) and it seems most scars have healed... I wont say they all high five each other in the hall, but they are gentlemen and professional. Each side knows they needed each other to continue the airline... Maybe this is the case now with ATA and whoever picks up the baton. I can only speak for myself, but I would rather have their folks than to have addititional flying contracted.

Nwa and Republic/Hughes, Western and Delta, Reno and AA, US Air and Piedmont, Bla Bla Bla.. The 'consolidation' continues..... ?? Its always painful. Hang on ..... its gonna get pretty interesting..

 

[ATA73Pilot]

As being reported on another forum...

Listening to the current AAI conference call it sounds like Joe Leonard will not be adding ATA employees with the gate acquisitions at MDW, LGA, and DCA. They only mentioned that AAI would enter into a wet-lease agreement with ATA for no more than a year to handle the transition of replacing ATA aircraft (and presumably crews)with AAI new aircraft deliveries. There is no plan to take on ATA 737-800 aircraft by AAI which believes that they are too big to use profitably out of places like MDW. As a side note, AAI as secured the rights to develop 10 new RJ gates at MDW if needed in the future. One analyst asked a question about this and whether or not AAI would use ATA's current regional partner or go with their own setup. Joe Leonard said that a review of the current arrangement between ATA and Chicago Express will be made but it would likely be used by AAI as well....and if needed.

 

[SWA/FO]

MNBOYEV,

Congrats on your upgrade!

TB

 

[DCitrus9]

EV, congrats on the upgrade! Don't be getting in trouble on those BWI layovers!

 

[717pilot]

EV and I were in class together and both finished at the same time. It feels good to be done. I start my IOE next week. There are alot of good things happening here at AIRTRAN. Glad I made the move years ago. EV have fun on IOE!!

 

[reepicheep]

You're in CH.11, you're at the mercy of the courts and the company who is taking on your assets. Doesn't really matter what your contract says or what kind of scope protection you think you may have. Here at US Airways we have no illusions; anyone who takes any of our planes is not taking on any pilots to go with them. There is some precedence for pilots going with planes (Pan Am, TWA) but the results were not pretty.

 

[FL717]

EV and I were in class together and both finished at the same time. It feels good to be done. I start my IOE next week. There are alot of good things happening here at AIRTRAN. Glad I made the move years ago. EV have fun on IOE!!

Hey EV and JW... congratulations on your Upgrades!

As far as the ATA/AirTran proposal, it has been indicated that only the gate and ATC slot assets will be acquired. Obviously, that could change, but I am adding this to the thread ONLY because I don't want to see any junior ATA Pilots pass on other flying opportunities thinking that they will be merging with our Pilots. I just do not see that happening, at least based on what AirTran has signed onto with ATA, and management has indicated. I do sincerely hope that AirTran will hire as many ATA Pilots that would like to come work here.

With the above said... I believe that ATA WILL successfully come out of Chapter 11, and many of the pilots will still have a great job and career there.

 

[Pickle]

Air Tran isn't taking any of us, not in the sense of a seniority list merger anyway. If we are lucky we will get to interview for a new hire position after we are done flying the MDW operation for them in a year, or however long the transition takes.

Hey MEC, how about my $500 merger money back? Mouths to feed, bills to pay, I am not an IND guy with a seniority number less than 300, that is to say, I still get direct deposit, nobody sends my a "special" check a week before payday.

 

[TWA Dude]

After ALPA and APA set the bar about as low as it could go, in regards to integrating two pilot groups, have pilots at other airlines learned from that event, or is greed going to take over the ranks of the pilots at AWA or Airtran?

IMHO the lesson has not been learned. My voice has been in the minority on the AWALPA web site advocating a fair process. I didn't like being lectured to "just be glad you have a job" and won't do it to anyone else.

 

[payton]

The American pilots set the bar with mergers to come. You will be stapled and told your lucky to have a job.
Good luck getting your $500 dollars back. We paid Alpa $300 at TWA, and look what it got us.

Good luck to you guys.

 

[atafan]

I have no illusions of transferring to AirTran, but please don't insult me by saying AirTran isn't getting any assets from ATA. Imagine if ATA just bought all of your gates at Atlanta and didn't take any of your pilots or airplanes or even entertain placing your pilots at the bottom of our list.

Would you still be saying that ATA didn't take any of your assets?

This deal is far from done anyway, don't spend those new captain checks.

 

[FL717]

I have no illusions of transferring to AirTran, but please don't insult me by saying AirTran isn't getting any assets from ATA. Imagine if ATA just bought all of your gates at Atlanta and didn't take any of your pilots or airplanes or even entertain placing your pilots at the bottom of our list.

Would you still be saying that ATA didn't take any of your assets?

This deal is far from done anyway, don't spend those new captain checks.

Since I've been a Captain at AirTran for over a year, I will address your unprovoked post since the people here that you were making the comments to will probably take the higher road and not respond.

First.. those people who recently upgraded, upgraded because of the success and growth of AirTran, not because of the recent situation at ATA. AirTran had/has a number of growth opportunities to explore and this is just one of them. So I believe these recent upgrades have earned that right and can spend their "Captain" paychecks as they see fit.

Second.. why do you feel the need to suddenly turn this into a us versus you debate. We have no control over the viability of of ATA, and how they plan on rebuilding their business. We also have no control over AirTran and their growth decisions. The statements made on these forums about assets has nothing to do with anything other than to point out what the press releases and management are saying.

You may be upset... and I am sorry for you all, and believe this will all work out for you, but that doesn't let you off the hook for deciding to make this personal.

 

[SaabStory]

Please take the comments of Atafan with a grain of salt & a large adult beverage. At least a judge will have some oversight of the most "underwhelming" management team in aviation. ATA is in deep kimchi not due to the actions of Citrus, but the incessant inaction of Hoosiers.

 

[atafan]

You know, I re-read this thread and I want to apologize to those on this site. As you can imagine, it's been quite emotional over here for the last couple of months and my response was targeted at another post that was made from another web board.

You are correct, you have all been very supportive here, I apologize.

I really need to stop reading all these boards.....

 

[SaabStory]

Wow. Some stand-up class on a forum, very impressive in light of the uncertain future ATA faces. Let's all work for the best, try and keep as many jobs as possible, & continue to perform as professionals. Again, class act Atafan; thanks.