MDW - the prize

[lowecur]

So what gives lowecur? Are you enjoying watching others "salivate" over our perceived "deteriorating situation" so much you feel that it is necessary to put it on this board?

BTW where do you work? I'm sure everything is just rosy there.

As Howard Cosell would say, "just callin em like I see em." Don't believe for a minute that there aren't other airline managements out there playing a chess game to make sure that ATA doesn't survive. Whatever routes you try to startup will be met with a strong response from competeing carriers. The airline business is a tough, hard nosed, heartless business. It's next to impossible to have long term plans if you are an employee with a family. Those on top today, can very easily be road kill in 5 years if they don't make the changes necessary to survive today. Time will tell if your management has made the right moves to survive and prosper.

 

[mach zero]

As Howard Cosell would say, "just callin em like I see em." Don't believe for a minute that there aren't other airline managements out there playing a chess game to make sure that ATA doesn't survive. Whatever routes you try to startup will be met with a strong response from competeing carriers. The airline business is a tough, hard nosed, heartless business. It's next to impossible to have long term plans if you are an employee with a family. Those on top today, can very easily be road kill in 5 years if they don't make the changes necessary to survive today. Time will tell if your management has made the right moves to survive and prosper.

Really, is that so. You know after 10+ years in the business, 3 airlines, and a couple of furloughs, I never would have guessed there was any risk involved. Thanks for the enlightenment.

I say again where do you work?

 

[lowecur]

Really, is that so. You know after 10+ years in the business, 3 airlines, and a couple of furloughs, I never would have guessed there was any risk involved. Thanks for the enlightenment.

I say again where do you work?

I'm a self-employed, semi-retired insurance agent. Also, I'm a amateur airlines analyst.

 

[Glideslope!]

someone needs to let Frontier and Northwest know to stop letting the airbusses fly into MDW anymore!

Also, ATA has been around for 30 years. I'm sure George M is well aware of how this industry has changed.

They must also be handing out a degree in business/finance when you take your private pilot written nowadays because a lot of pilots seem to know an awful lot about this area. LOL

 

[Capt. Kramer]

Lowecur,

When did you interview at ATA?

 

[Marko Ramius]

someone needs to let Frontier and Northwest know to stop letting the airbusses fly into MDW anymore!

Also, ATA has been around for 30 years. I'm sure George M is well aware of how this industry has changed.

They must also be handing out a degree in business/finance when you take your private pilot written nowadays because a lot of pilots seem to know an awful lot about this area. LOL

Better stop flying them to DCA, BUR, SNA and several others while you're at.

 

[lowecur]

OK

I get the picture on the Airbus'. But I would still guess no one is taking off with a full load of fuel, but I may be wrong on that one too! Oh well, two strikes....

 

[Tristar]

I would still guess no one is taking off with a full load of fuel, but I may be wrong on that one too!

The better question would be why in heaven's name would you want to take off with a full load of fuel? In the past five years I can count on probably one and certainly both hands the number of times I've taken off with the tanks completely full. You carry enough fuel to reach your destination, alternate, reserves, and additional fuel for delays/weather/ect. Occasionally we'll carry tanker fuel when it's considerably cheaper at the departure point than the destination. Otherwise you're only burning extra fuel to carry unnecessary fuel - not very efficient.

On the other hand - I've departed (and arrived) numerous times at MDW with all 247 seats full, plus two jumpseaters and perhaps an extra flight attendant or two, a ton or two of cargo, and three to four hours worth of fuel as well. Much more cost effective than taking off with a full load of fuel!

 

[MooseTrax]

Amen---Tristar

Well put Tristar. I think this is the big point. Full tanks is not where you make the money, it's full seats.

you're only burning extra fuel to carry unnecessary fuel - not very efficient

This is a major waste of money for an airline. Some say you burn roughly 3% per hour of the extra fuel you are carrying to get it where it's going. This can be smart though to turn an aircraft faster or to save money if the cost of fuel at the destination outweighs the loss, but unlike smaller aircraft, the big ones can financially afford to "fill'er up!"