Interesting take on Song

[Jeff G]

There is no doubt Jetblue will lose passengers and it will stunt their growth.

This isn't a zero-sum game. The Florida market is growing. More likely the market will continue to grow and some of that growth will go to Delta, instead of all of it going to JetBlue. JetBlue doesn't have the planes to fully service the market no matter what Delta does, so it's hard to make the case that Delta is "stunting" JetBlue's growth or even slowing it down. Maybe later on the bottom of the market will be found, but nobody has found it yet. In that case, additional growth at JetBlue will go towards other markets. Chicago, Boston... Cincinnati?

 

[fredflyer]

I saw your CEO on Cavuto on FOX and he said that Song will only provide a 12% more capacity lift than what they have now. (Express) Hmmmm. Our Express 737's had 119 seats, and our Song 757's will have 199 seats. 12%??? 80 extra seats is 12%? Wrong.

How many 737's did/does Express have?

 

[General Lee]

Fred Flyer,

I believe Delta has around 50 total 737-200's, and of those about 30 are still left at Delta Express flying up and down the east coast. The remaining 737-200's are now going to CVG to fly mainline routes that cannot support MD88's, or are too big for CRJ70's. Eventually all of the 737-200's will be based out of CVG, and they will be replaced eventually (2005-2006) by something in the 100 seat range (A318, 737-600, 717). We also have about 17 737-300's based in SLC and DFW, and 9 737-300's based in LGA flying the Delta Shuttle Routes---LGA to BOS and DCA.

Jeff G,

I know that there will be a lot of pax generated from our competition, but remember we both have other competition. Continental flies a lot of people out of EWR to Florida and SJU. Spirit flies a lot of MD80's from LGA to FLorida and on to SJU. And now Song and Jetblue will fight it out at JFK. There probably are a lot of new passengers that will try both of our airlines, but you at Jetblue cannot count on sustaining your current growth rate with all of the new entrants and Song nipping at your tail. I am sure your customers are loyal, but if they try Song once and think it was nice not to have to drive that far from the city to JFK--and LGA is closer---you might lose some customers. Delta really is trying to get things right with Song---faster turn times, nicer employees with a different attitude, interesting entertainment options, mileage programs with travel options, selling food that has to taste good if you were to buy it, etc. Our management has made no smoke screens here---they are gunning for Jetblue and have the money to give it a good try. I like friendly competition like the next guy, but Delta is serious---because they have to be.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[SWA/FO]

General Lee,

Does Delta have more money then LUV? What about ISP! HA "Song" is not going there?

Maybe the Pilot's uniforms will be cool looking?

 

[General Lee]

SWAFO,

According to the Delta CFO (which is probably biased)---Delta had $2.6 Billion in cash, and $5 billion to mortgage, and Southwest had $2.5 billion in cash and more to mortgage.(I don't know that part, but the $2.5 bil in cash was given) Yes, I am sure Delta has burned some of that away and Southwest probably has more cash on hand now, but not much more. Yes, Delta had a quarterly loss of $320mil---and some of that was one of those one time charges that will never come up again--I hope. Compared to the rest of the Majors---Delta is the star (behind Southwest I guess....)

ISP sucks as an airport. I used to fly into there on Express from FLL, MCO, PBI, and TPA. We still fly acouple of 737-200 flights a day in there, but I am sure Song will drop it because they might not be able to fill 199 seats on the lime green 757's. The terminal there is old, the runways are short, and the people are interesting. We still have RJ's (some 70 seaters) that can funnel people thru ATL and then down to FLA if they want to use us. I think Song will have a better chance at filling the seats at LGA,JFK, and EWR. But, you will see our planes in BDL---where we might compete. I guess they will be flying from IAD, BOS, BDL, and the three NYC airports. Eventually you might see them in LAS, PHX, SNA, and OAK. There are rumors that we might eventually have up to 60 757's at Song (out of 120 total 757's).
But, if you do see one of our crews outside one of those Lime green 757's, come over and say hi. I am sure the FO can afford to buy both of you a Starbucks Latte.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[120% Torque]

I hate to say it but the kind of banter being tossed about by the "General" reminds me of some United pups railing on Southwest guys for not coming over to a "real airline" and flying some "real equipment" in the late 90's. Dont get me wrong I like Delta and and at one time really wanted to work there but I think there is a fine line that must be walked and I see that line being crossed here with the attacks on JetBlue.

 

[NYRANGERS]

I hate to say it but the kind of banter being tossed about by the "General" reminds me of some United pups railing on Southwest guys for not coming over to a "real airline" and flying some "real equipment" in the late 90's. Dont get me wrong I like Delta and and at one time really wanted to work there but I think there is a fine line that must be walked and I see that line being crossed here with the attacks on JetBlue.

I don't see how defending your airlines products is "crossing the line". I think we have a little bit of bright news amidst an enormous ammount of bad, and I don't see how being positive about our new product is "crossing the line".

And further more, give us a break on the..."why don't you fly for a real airline" BS. I find it hard to believe any pilot would take this silly approach. If you like where you are, you don't have to justify it too anyone.

I think your objection may be a short comming to your own personal failures.

With this I say good bye for now,

The RANGERS are playing the Blues.

Go RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

I'd say STL by a goal, heheh. Here are some Jan stats for JB.

Traffic increased 93.2% on a capacity increase of 80.4% from Jan 2002.

Jan 2003 Load factor 82.2%

Completion factor 99.9%

Ontime 80.4%

For first time in three year history, internet sales exceeded 70% with sales online at 71% for January...

 

[120% Torque]

Whatever

 

[canyonblue]

Maybe the "general" can remember his history the last time an "operation" out of the south came up north to try to flex some muscle. Good 'ol General Lee got his A$$ whupped as the northern "operation" tore right thru, you guessed it, ATLANTA.

 

[SWA/FO]

General Lee,

I really can't think of anything creative to say.

I guess a cup of starbucks would be good. I wish the Delta guys I meet/see on the road were as entertaining as you.

Good luck with your new song.

It will be interesting to see what happens?

 

[NYRANGERS]

Whatever

Very insightful. We need more of your insightful posts.

 

[NYRANGERS]

I'd say STL by a goal, heheh. Here are some Jan stats for JB.

Traffic increased 93.2% on a capacity increase of 80.4% from Jan 2002.

Jan 2003 Load factor 82.2%

Completion factor 99.9%

Ontime 80.4%

For first time in three year history, internet sales exceeded 70% with sales online at 71% for January...

Rangers tied. I hate that. Maybe they should take a pay cut to get better

 

[General Lee]

120%Torque,

I wasn't trying to cross the line or whatever, I was tooting our own horn. Everyone likes to get on the bandwagon and bash Delta when the majors are taking a beating. All I am saying is that Delta is not doing as bad as AA or UAL, and that we seem to have a plan, unlike the others. We have the resources and we have a target in our sights---Jetblue. Now, will we win right away? I don't know, but we are going to go after them. I like Jetblue pilots and have nothing personal against them, but I want to defend my airline and think we have a good chance to do well. After 9-11 we had to shut down half of Delta Express, why was that? The reason is that we furloughed the bottom 400 guys immediately---and most of those guys were FO's at Express. Our loads at Express have always been full--but the airplane was not the right plane for the routes. Now we will have 757's with more seats, the same gas burn as the 737-200, and hopefully new attitudes with the new flight attendants etc. We are really going for something new--and something that will not hurt mainline loads out of ATL and CVG. I believe in Delta and the idea of Song, and I think it will do well.

SWA/FO,

You sound like a good guy too. I would be happy to buy you any Tall or Grande coffee at Starbucks, but I can't say I can afford a Venti for both you and your Capt at this time. It will be interesting to watch Song grow--and I hope it does well. I also think I will look "sexy" in a lime green 757. (joke!!!) (Maybe??)

And yes, The Original General Lee did go down in the South--in Atlanta too. But, we all know that the real General Lee (the car in the Dukes of Hazard) was never caught and was always the fastest thing around and admired by all in Hazard County. That Daisy Duke sure is "Perty!" Nice shorts.

Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

General Lee, what do you think about Delta's industry leading institution of charging extra for bags weighing over 50 pounds is supposed to do? It seems that the industry allowance has been 70 pounds per bag for the longest time. Is this another poor decision by management on customer service? The cash-strapped airlines conducted a similar stunt with extra fees before and failed-- I can't see this as a positive thing for your customers... It'll probably slow the 90 second check-in time as the cash register gets rung for the extra bucks... and finally, what if I had an oversized guitar case on Song I wanted to check, how much are they going to charge for that???