Tony C,
Come on now. Since we know that many will leave Nov 1st or Dec 1st, having 500 Captains leave all at once would ground the widebodies and be terrible for the airline. That could not happen, and those retired guys will only stay as long as they have to to have somebody junior trained. Also, the recalls are not just stopping, they are slowing down, and many of those furloughed early have moved on to Jetblue etc, so the recalls may move swiftly.
TBKANE,
I know you are pi$$ed to say the least. I personally hope you are back a lot sooner than 2008. The 70 seat RJs will not replace the 100 seater (737-200), and they can only get more 70 seaters if mainline grows. If we contract, they will not get as many. With our credit ratings slowly rising, it will be easier to get some type of financing to eventually replace the 737-200s, and I have heard a myriad of different airplanes that could take their place---like the 736, 737-700, A318, EMB-190, and Space Shuttle. Dean Bloom, the sys chief pilot, stated the 737-700 would be a perfect "Shuttle Aircraft" (For the NYC Shuttle?). I don't know why you would use a long range aircraft on the Shuttle, but who knows? I bet it could be something that we already have sims for and are training on--like the 737-700 or -600. But, this is all moot if we still file for bankruptcy or don't approve this TA. It really is all up in the air----literally.
Fins,
I don't know about how many 70 seaters Delta will take, and I don't know who will get them.....Also, I thought Skywest had lower costs also? Could they get some?
Bye Bye--General Lee