JB and AA to be announced on Wednesday.

[NAA Pilot]

During the conference call.

So I hear from a little bird in my pocket.

 

[AA767FB]

Heard it as well....

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Merger?

 

[pilotgolfer]

Merger?

They just contracted JetBlue for cabin cleaning services.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Out in the islands the natives always say they will do something "Tomorrow." Tomorrow is code for "not going to happen whitie."

Tomorrow JBLU and AMR are going to merge. Island talk.

 

[Cpt Oveur]

Sounds more like one will acquire the other, only question is who. Maybe jetBlue will do all domestic and AA will end up all international.

 

[Flyby1206]

...yawn...

Yep, its been about 2 weeks since the last AA/JB merger thread. I'm sure this time it is for real!

 

[rjacobs]

I will ask the same questions that I asked when somebody on the XJT board started a rumor about AA and USAir.

What does B6 bring to AA?

New international routes-nope

East coast presence-nope because AA already has that with 4 bases/hubs on the east coast.

West Coast presence-AA already has a pretty big west coast presence as well.

Mid West presence-B6 brings nothing to the table on this and AA already has a huge mid-west presence.

Aircraft-AA has a huge airbus order so I why would they be wanting to merge with somebody who already has a bunch, why not merge before and forgo the order? 190's? Maybe for the 190's, but I dont know, pay on the 190 isnt exactly B-scale enough to make a huge difference I wouldnt think.

Pilots-fairly young pilot group at B6, but what does this really bring to AA? Retirement replacements? They(AA) could simply just hire off the street and get cheaper pilots than what B6 has since they would have to take them at longevity pay rates(a lot of the B6 pilots would max the AA pay scale, thus negating any cost savings). Plus there would be HUGE infighting of the pilot groups in this merger with way to many unknowns about how that may play out with a non-union work group merging with a union work group(which has a history of being ruthless).

New management-if Arpey wants out, why not just leave.


I dont know, maybe I am having random thoughts, but I dont see this as a good merger. I dont see any airline in the US that is left as being a good merger for AA in the fact that I dont think anybody brings anything to the table that AA doesnt already have(or is going to get through their huge aircraft order book).

Now a straight acquisition simply to eliminate competition, ala TWA/Reno, I could see happening, but with AA's supposedly precarious financial position and rumors of a BK filing I dont see how they could spread that rumor one week and then make a financial acquisition of another carrier the next, but I guess stranger things have happened.

 

[Otto77]

B9 is a vitamin.. B6 is jetBlue

 

[rjacobs]

B9 is a vitamin.. B6 is jetBlue

damn, editing to fix. I knew something didnt look right.

 

[Lake Alice]

This is NAA's post from 2007

I have heard a few JB friends and other accurate rumor types say that AMR is interested in JB's fleet. The Buses will make a nice start in replacing the Super 80 and the Embraer is just what the Doc ordered.

AMR will eliminate a LCC competitor and JB is Non-union making stapling a forgone conclucion. The APA has already said OK.

 

[Otto77]

damn, editing to fix. I knew something didnt look right.

All good! Just having some fun

 

[PERSON]

What would be the over/under on how many JB pilots would be on the street? Would the pilots even go with the equipment? Not intended to be flame...

 

[Lake Alice]

As per M/B which references A/M 50% of the pilot group may be stapled to the bottom of the list. The other 50% are theoretically added fairly. What is fair?

 

[SWA/FO]

B6's UNION will get them a fair deal..? Oh, forget about it.

 

[densoo]

This may be the latest in merger strategies.

UAL and CAL are merging and now CAL is hiring UAL furloughed pilots, 180 of them. Cheaper labor costs, even with the higher UAL payrates that these pilots keep. A dozen UAL 75s going away, CAL getting 19 new 737s next year.

AA merges with US Air and starts to shift flying over them. Another end run around RLA.

 

[CapnVegetto]

LOL if JB and AA is announced Wednesday I will post a video on here of me eating my hat.

This crap is getting old. There was a thread a month ago where someone was SURE JB was going to buy US Air West. Didn't happen.

JB/AA has been going on for months. AA doesn't have the financial resources to acquire JB, nor does JB have the resources to acquire AA. A merger? Maybe. The signs have been pointing towards it for a long time, and AA could damn sure use the workforce.

Hell I'd love to merge with AA. I'm junior at JB and even with a staple, I'd still be able to retire as a widebody captain with relative ease, just because of all the retirements upcoming at AA. In the 2020's they will be losing 700 a year. They won't be able to hire fast enough.

If it happened, I'd be dancing in the streets. Hell, I'd even eat a furlough for a couple of years and still be happy. I'll just get a job flying a Citation for a bit.

It'd be nice, but I've seen this crap before. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Lake Alice]

We merge and I'll share that hat with you for all the same reasons.

 

[$$$4nothin]

I will bring the tabasco and we can have a hat eating party at the corner of Metro and Lefforts.

 

[Lake Alice]

That's where I draw the line. If I'm at metro and lefferts I'm eating at Tu Casa.

 

[Flopgut]

This may be the latest in merger strategies.

UAL and CAL are merging and now CAL is hiring UAL furloughed pilots, 180 of them. Cheaper labor costs, even with the higher UAL payrates that these pilots keep. A dozen UAL 75s going away, CAL getting 19 new 737s next year.

AA merges with US Air and starts to shift flying over them. Another end run around RLA.

I normally agree with your posts, and while I do not disagree with this one, I don't understand it. Can you elaborate on the cheaper labor cost and end run on the RLA comment? I'm sure you have a good point, I'm just not getting it....

 

[CapnVegetto]

That's where I draw the line. If I'm at metro and lefferts I'm eating at Tu Casa.

Well we can at least put some chicken in our hats there.

 

[Lake Alice]

Tru Dat!

 

[Dumb Pilot]

It worked out so well for the TWA guys and gals!

 

[Flyby1206]

That's where I draw the line. If I'm at metro and lefferts I'm eating at Tu Casa.

Hell yea! Skirt steak, rice and beans, the green sauce, mmmm.

 

[Fubijaakr]

As per M/B which references A/M 50% of the pilot group may be stapled to the bottom of the list. The other 50% are theoretically added fairly. What is fair?

That would be the CAL/PeoplExpress model...Capts get DoH, F/Os get stapled.

 

[Flyby1206]

That would be the CAL/PeoplExpress model...Capts get DoH, F/Os get stapled.

If everyone at JB got DOH then that would still be a staple. AA hasn't hired since 9/11

 

[Lake Alice]

It worked out so well for the TWA guys and gals!

TWA received a 52% staple. The subsequent furloughs were in relation to 9-11. The Jetblue PEA states, and references M/B-A/M, that a majority will not be added to the bottom of another list. So while many complain about the TWA/AA merger without knowing the actual percentages the Jetblue PEA does very little to protect you any more.

The Jetblue pilots voted for this level, or lack of, protection.

 

[CapnVegetto]

That's where I draw the line. If I'm at metro and lefferts I'm eating at Tu Casa.

TWA received a 52% staple. The subsequent furloughs were in relation to 9-11. The Jetblue PEA states, and references M/B-A/M, that a majority will not be added to the bottom of another list. So while many complain about the TWA/AA merger without knowing the actual percentages the Jetblue PEA does very little to protect you any more.

The Jetblue pilots voted for this level, or lack of, protection.

Doesn't matter. The very best that the JB ppl could hope for is for the 320 cas and fos to be merged in with the AA 737 and md80 cas and fos. The 190 ppl would all be stapled. That would fit in with the "career expectations" model.

A 50% staple is Gonna happen, like it or not. The APA won't accept anything less.

Still won't matter much. More than 70% of the AA pilot group gone in 12 years to retirement. No matter what happens, Jr guys are gonna make out better than dr guys, even if there is a furlough.

 

[magrs]

"If everyone at JB got DOH then that would still be a staple. AA hasn't hired since 9/11"

This should be the number 1 reason why JetBlue guys wouldn't accept/tolerate a merger. I'd stand to some how, miraculously become more senior on furlough, but hell, it still wouldn't be worth going back for.

My personal hope is for AA to declre bankruptcy (as they will), freeze the pensions and kick the new year off with a better business plan. Start by giving the pilots (and other unions) a small raise (32%), freeze management bonuses and offer a nie TWA-style DAP.

One can dream...until then, I watch from the sidelines and hope my JetbLue bretheren don't get sucked into this hole.