MESA gets US Airways CRJ700s

[vc10]

MESA gets US Airways CRJ700s

US Airways Will Not Take Delivery of CRJ-705 Aircraft;
Mesa Airlines to Operate CRJ-700 as US Airways Express
ARLINGTON, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways said today
that it has notified Bombardier Aerospace that it will not be taking delivery
of the 25 CRJ-705 regional jet aircraft ordered in May, and instead, will
contract with Mesa Airlines to fly at least 25, and perhaps as many as 55 70-
seat regional jets under the US Airways Express name.
The decision was made after US Airways and its Air Line Pilots Association
(ALPA) unit could not reach an agreement on terms under which the 75-seat CRJ-
705 would be flown by a wholly owned US Airways affiliate using furloughed US
Airways pilots under the carrier's 'Jets For Jobs' program.
"We continue to believe that the CRJ-705 falls within the parameters of
our contract with ALPA, and we were enthusiastic about the purchase of these
planes, which would have provided jobs for up to an additional 225 furloughed
US Airways pilots," said Bruce Ashby, president of US Airways Express. "ALPA
disagreed, and rather than spend months -- maybe even years -- negotiating and
arbitrating our differences, we have decided instead to place the jets at
Mesa. That will mean fewer jobs for furloughed pilots and at lower wage
rates, but it reflects the position ALPA has maintained in representing its
members."
Under the US Airways-ALPA 'Jets For Jobs' agreement, half of all regional
jet pilot positions at affiliate carriers such as Mesa must be filled with
furloughed US Airways pilots. But 100 percent of the jobs associated with the
CRJ-700 series and Embraer 170/175 aircraft go to furloughed pilots placed at
the airline's regional carriers (PSA, Piedmont and Allegheny) or its new
wholly owned MidAtlantic Airways division.
"Throughout our negotiations, we impressed upon ALPA the need to stay on
track in order to take delivery of these new regional jets," said Ashby. "We
finally concluded that we must agree to disagree, and since we must continue
to run the company and implement our new business plan, the end result was the
decision to utilize Mesa and its workforce, since that is the net result of
ALPA's position."
MidAtlantic will be flying Embraer 170/175 aircraft. The CRJ-705 seats 75
passengers in a dual-class configuration, with a maximum gross takeoff weight
of 82,500 pounds. The Embraer 175, which ALPA has already agreed to fly at
regional jet pay rates and work rules, seats 76 passengers in a dual
configuration, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 85,517 pounds.
SOURCE US Airways
-0- 07/09/2003

/CONTACT: David Castelveter of US Airways, +1-703-872-5100/
/Web site: http://www.usairways.com/
-- DCW057 --
0512 07/09/2003 15:15 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

Copyright PR Newswire 2003. All rights reserved.


Wed Jul 9 19:15:23 2003 -GMT- pnac (nPRN79W057) = 1 19:15

 

[exdashdriver]

What does this mean for Piedmont? I used to be a Piedmonster- God I hope they survive, a lot of great people.

 

[General Lee]

Mesa has offered to do it all for the cheapest amount of money, and USAir bought it. They have done it with UAL, and USAir now has given it a lot more business. As Mesa grows and takes up more Regional airline market share, other airlines will have to lower their wages to compete for the existing contracts. I wouldn't doubt Delta would go for them eventually if the price was right. And ASA is currently negotiating for more wages? I feel sorry for them negotiating this right now, as the industry crumbles around them.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Machdog1]

Another reason why I hate MESA. The cancer continues to grow!!!! Wake up people it is starting everywhere, we must raise up and destroy this monster my brothers and sisters!!!!!!!!

 

[Dashcaptain]

This sounds like just great news for those of us at Allegheny or Piedmont. Let the games continue. What a way to keep morale high here.

 

[big dog1]

exdashdriver

What does this mean for Piedmont? I used to be a Piedmonster- God I hope they survive, a lot of great people

there's should be enough for everyone

 

[Bluestreaker]

"Under the US Airways-ALPA 'Jets For Jobs' agreement, half of all regional jet pilot positions at affiliate carriers such as Mesa must be filled with furloughed US Airways pilots."

Another way for siegal to make some money. Does anyone really think any furloughed guys are going to go to mesa?? the ones there now hate it so much their ready to quit. Nice jets for SH1tty jobs program.

 

[jetdriven]

all of the CRJ-705's are being flown by MESA pilots only. J4J appplies only to 50 seaters.

 

[stillaboo]

Does anyone really think any furloughed guys are going to go to mesa?? the ones there now hate it so much their ready to quit.

I think of this as a positive, actually (yeah, you heard me right!) There will never be significant gains made in this industry until all pilots work together to make small gains. When furloughed mainliners have a stake in the contract of a regional (when they fly for them), that's when mainline and ALPA might finally start acting to help raise the regional rates (or at least stop this round of concessions).

ALPA never should have allowed regionals to be second class jobs. It's not too late to change things. If there is a positive here, it's that Mesa is growing so fast that they'll either screw it up (the Mesa training dept hasn't been ramped up at all yet), or be so large and powerful that it will be near impossible for Mesa to not get better rates the next time their contract comes up (granted, it's a while, but it's better than waiting for EGL to re-negotiate).

Good luck to all the WO and CHQ. There should be plenty of growth for everyone here. Don't pull an ACA and vote in concessions now, you're only gonna' hurt your own paycheck. Incidentally, it looks like ACA is gonna' get some flying too.

Support your fellow pilots; encourage small gains in each contract, not concessions. Eventually, these gains will add up.

Jetdriven - are you sure that J4J only applies to the 50 seaters at YV? Can you cite the contract here perhaps?

-Boo!

edited to reflect the correct concessions

 

[FL000]

Don't pull an ASA and vote in concessions now

You want to do some research on that and try it again before you get your balls busted?

 

[Bluestreaker]

you said it my man. "When furloughed mainliners have a stake in the contract of a regional (when they fly for them), that's when mainline and ALPA might finally start acting to help raise the regional rates (or at least stop this round of concessions)". the furloughed mainliners are only going to care about the regionals that they are working for at the time they are working for them. as soon as they get their mainline jobs back(if and when that happens) it's gonna be back to the same old crap, ("the regoinals are taking all of our flying")
Face it, as much as you or I would like all of the pilots to come together and put a stop to this madness. There are too many greedy CEO's out there, too many guys willing to work for nothing and too many people afraid to take a stand.(mesa), come on, didn't even vote it down once???

 

[stillaboo]

You want to do some research on that and try it again before you get your balls busted?

Whoops! ACA , not ASA.

My bad!
-Boo!

 

[FL000]

I thought it was just an honest mistake. Didn't want you to get killed over it.

 

[DoinTime]

all of the CRJ-705's are being flown by MESA pilots only. J4J appplies only to 50 seaters.

Press Release Source: US Airways
US Airways Will Not Take Delivery of CRJ-705 Aircraft; Mesa Airlines to Operate CRJ-700 as US Airways Express
Wednesday July 9, 3:15 pm ET

ARLINGTON, Va., July 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways said today that it has notified Bombardier Aerospace that it will not be taking delivery of the 25 CRJ-705 regional jet aircraft ordered in May, and instead, will contract with Mesa Airlines to fly at least 25, and perhaps as many as 55 70- seat regional jets under the US Airways Express name.

The decision was made after US Airways and its Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) unit could not reach an agreement on terms under which the 75-seat CRJ- 705 would be flown by a wholly owned US Airways affiliate using furloughed US Airways pilots under the carrier's 'Jets For Jobs' program.

"We continue to believe that the CRJ-705 falls within the parameters of our contract with ALPA, and we were enthusiastic about the purchase of these planes, which would have provided jobs for up to an additional 225 furloughed US Airways pilots," said Bruce Ashby, president of US Airways Express. "ALPA disagreed, and rather than spend months -- maybe even years -- negotiating and arbitrating our differences, we have decided instead to place the jets at Mesa. That will mean fewer jobs for furloughed pilots and at lower wage rates, but it reflects the position ALPA has maintained in representing its members."

Under the US Airways-ALPA 'Jets For Jobs' agreement, half of all regional jet pilot positions at affiliate carriers such as Mesa must be filled with furloughed US Airways pilots. But 100 percent of the jobs associated with the CRJ-700 series and Embraer 170/175 aircraft go to furloughed pilots placed at the airline's regional carriers (PSA, Piedmont and Allegheny) or its new wholly owned MidAtlantic Airways division.

"Throughout our negotiations, we impressed upon ALPA the need to stay on track in order to take delivery of these new regional jets," said Ashby. "We finally concluded that we must agree to disagree, and since we must continue to run the company and implement our new business plan, the end result was the decision to utilize Mesa and its workforce, since that is the net result of ALPA's position."

MidAtlantic will be flying Embraer 170/175 aircraft. The CRJ-705 seats 75 passengers in a dual-class configuration, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 82,500 pounds. The Embraer 175, which ALPA has already agreed to fly at regional jet pay rates and work rules, seats 76 passengers in a dual configuration, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 85,517 pounds.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: US Airways

There aren't going to be any CRJ-705's they have all been converted to CRJ-700's. Thats what the fuss is all about. Is the part about half of all new pilot jobs at affiliated carriers not correct? Certainly seems that this has been the plan all along.

 

[KingAirKiddo]

Let the madness stop. I need an Advil.

 

[grog_sit_reserv]

Stillaboo is right on this one. ALPA hosed it all a long time ago by treating the regionals as second class citizens.

I admit Mesa is a sh1tty place to work, and we might just blow it by being unprepared for the growth, ok, will probably blow it, but if we pull it off somehow and ALPA still ignores us in 5 years when we go back to the table I'm flying up to Herndon and burning my card.

To those at the WO's I was under the impression that this won't affect your 50 seat orders since the jets Mesa is putting into service were originally for Mid-Atlantic.

I hope I'm right, because its getting old watching Airways dick with you so much.

 

[stillaboo]

"The Embraer 175, which ALPA has already agreed to fly at regional jet pay rates and work rules, seats 76 passengers in a dual configuration, with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 85,517 pounds."
SOURCE US Airways

WHY has ALPA agreed to fly the EMJ 175 at regional jet rates?!

The Jet Blue guys get pissed if you call their new EMJ's "RJ's", and they're right! Their pilots won't fly the EMJ's "at regional jet pay rates and work rules", so why should US guys do it?

Even Orenstein (Mesa's CEO) is laughing at ALPA. An ALPA rep called sending all of MidAtlantic's jets (and jobs) to Mesa "a victory for pilots".

JO's response: "I am generally very competitive - but I don't mind "losing" this match."

Un-freakin'-believable!

-Boo!

 

[DoinTime]

The Jet Blue guys get pissed if you call their new EMJ's "RJ's", and they're right! Their pilots won't fly the EMJ's "at regional jet pay rates and work rules", so why should US guys do it?

David Neilman has said that the pay rates for the EMB190 at Jet Blue will be proportional to the pay rates in the Airbus. This will put them 60-65% of what the Airbus rates are. These ARE regional payscales and their work rules are no better than some of the regional airlines.

 

[stillaboo]

These ARE regional payscales and their work rules are no better than some of the regional airlines.

Really, their 1st year FO pay on the EMR will be the same as say, CMR's (pick another regional if you wish)? Really? Are you sure? Is there a 'Blue guy who can answer this?

Even if they are paid the same and their workrules are the same (which remains to be seen), there's still a difference.

'Blue guys make a living flying. The rest of us fly to make a living. See the difference?

-Boo!

 

[DoinTime]

'Blue guys make a living flying. The rest of us fly to make a living. See the difference?

The only difference is how you perceive yourself.

You obviously perceive yourself as not being worth very much and your new contract shows that.