Midwest looking for 50 seat A/C

[Superpilot92]

Midwest is too dang cheap for:
1. COEX or AWAC ---- you guys are too expensive!!!!!

2. Shell out money for 25 a/c!!!!


15 a/c is a big difference from 25 a/c

well they requested a bid from us for 25 planes so i guess thats the number they feel they want, wouldnt you agree? To expensive - Where did you hear that? FlightInfo??? I guess we will see.

 

[DiverDriver]

Midwest is too dang cheap for:
1. COEX or AWAC ---- you guys are too expensive!!!!!

2. Shell out money for 25 a/c!!!!

15 a/c is a big difference from 25 a/c

We slapped down 125 mil for US Air. We got the money. And Eastshore just sold off stock in US Air. They definitely have the money to invest. Coincidence? Maybe. Time will tell.

 

[mckpickle]

Midwest is too dang cheap for:
1. COEX or AWAC ---- you guys are too expensive!!!!!

2. Shell out money for 25 a/c!!!!

15 a/c is a big difference from 25 a/c

Well if we have 69 a/c sitting around doing nothing I bet we'd fly them at a loss to generate some sort of revenue instead of parking them.

 

[Fallingbrick]

It could be 25 airframes although that would be very unlikely. Keep in mind this is not United or Continental that is requesting bids. Midwest has 25 717’s with 88 seat and 12 MD-80s with 143 seats for a total of 3916 chairs at mainline. Add Skyway and you have 491 seats more for a total of 4407 system wide. If 25 RJs were added that would be an increase of 1250 or a 28% increase. Given the conservative history of Midwest and the management style of Tim, I would be shocked to see that many awarded to anyone.

I have not seen the Midwest company E mail that detailed to request, however I was under the impression that it was for ten aircraft. Any current Skyway guys see this? Even if Tim was drunk and decide to actually commit to such a large expansion of the route structure, I don’t think they would be able. Just look at MEH’s financials, they can’t afford the airline they run now. That is unless some regional is willing to invest a large amount of cash in the operation.

It will make for interesting politics between mainline pilots and who ever is awarded this flying. I was once accused of stealing mainline routes by an MD-80 pilot on a flight from MKE-MSN when I was a 1900 FO there a few years ago. I was speechless...how do you respond to that?

Finally, why does everyone on this thread assume that it would be MKE flying? Tim has been talking up MCI expansion in every press release the company has published regarding future route plans for the past few years. I think routes to west coast out of MCI with 10-15 airplanes is the most likely scenario. No dog in this fight, just my .02, and I have been wrong most of the time in the past. Best of luck to those who get the flying and to the bottom half of Skyways list.

 

[Fallingbrick]

Maybe the 25 airplanes are intended to replace the ENTIRE Skyway fleet and just lease the whole commuter unit instead of owning it...

Replace a 1900 with a 50 seat RJ? MKE to ESC in a CRJ or145? Stranger things have happened in this business.

MEH has a history of selling things they own and leasing them back. For example: their DC-9s (when they had them) and the cookie palace (HQ). They are now attempting it with the MX hangers…notice the for sale signs in front. Leasing all of their feed is not out of the question.

 

[Superpilot92]

Well we will see here very soon whats going to happen. We have 300 milliion in the bank that investors want us to do something with. So add that to the fire. Also we have been hearing MCI for a long time around here. It might get interesting here at XJET because there is a good chance we may pick up more than one more codeshare. On a side note the company just put out another perm bid and most junior capt award was to a 07/04 hire. We are going upgrading people like crazy, it kinda makes you wonder.

Time will tell.

 

[mckpickle]

Well we will see here very soon whats going to happen. We have 300 milliion in the bank that investors want us to do something with. So add that to the fire. Also we have been hearing MCI for a long time around here. It might get interesting here at XJET because there is a good chance we may pick up more than one more codeshare. On a side note the company just put out another perm bid and most junior capt award was to a 07/04 hire. We are going upgrading people like crazy, it kinda makes you wonder.

Time will tell.

Don't get too excited man. I don't want these guys looking at us like we looked at the CHQ guys when the 69 planes thing came out. At least we can stand on our laurels in that we have the highest paid contract, and that is is possible to attract new buisness with a good contract. Of course we may not get any new flying and be screwed!

 

[Mercury]

On a side note the company just put out another perm bid and most junior capt award was to a 07/04 hire. We are going upgrading people like crazy, it kinda makes you wonder.

Just curious, once you upgrade will that make you a Super-Duper Pilot?????

Just a little humor, Try not to take this 15 or 25 or 69 aircraft stuff too seriously, I hate to see people getting worked up over things they cant control.

Cheers:beer:

 

[brew3departure]

Irony...

I was gone before the new contract actually went into place; does SYX have book rates for aircraft with over 32 seats? I can't remember.

Someone in the know, please post those.

Compare those to XJET, or anyone else.

If Midwest is truly putting this out for bid, I don't think XJET stands an ice cube's chance in h-e-l-l of winning the flying...Or Air Wisconsin, for that matter. Way too expensive. You are right, though, the citizens of the MKE airport lost the overflow lot so that AWAC could put its maintenance hangar there...it is a nice hangar, at least. But what the heck do I know.

Just as an aside; if you guys (Xjet) _DO_ happen to win that flying, can the entirety of flightinfo start bashing you guys for undercutting Skyway?

My heart goes out to the SYX folks; I don't think there's been true good news there in the last five years, really. Hopefully SYX gets the flying for themselves...

-brew3

 

[mckpickle]

We're not undercutting anyone. We have the best contract in the industry jacka$$. We are not whoring ourselves out to gain flying.

 

[n757st]

Don't get too excited man. I don't want these guys looking at us like we looked at the CHQ guys when the 69 planes thing came out. At least we can stand on our laurels in that we have the highest paid contract, and that is is possible to attract new buisness with a good contract. Of course we may not get any new flying and be screwed!

Umm... if you are talking about your pilot contract... you are not the highest paid. Decent Contract? Yes. Highest paid.. no.

 

[avrodriver]

Umm... if you are talking about your pilot contract... you are not the highest paid. Decent Contract? Yes. Highest paid.. no.

Thank you!

I suppose this is where we start comparing paychecks and whoever makes a dollar more wins the title. WHO GIVES A SH*T.

Whether Mesa wins this or Expressjet wins this it all adds up to the same thing. WAKE UP!!

PILOT CONTRACTS TO NOT MAKE OR BREAK who gets new business. There are an endless amount of variables that go into these things. Management has suceeded in brainwashing half of you into believing that you determine your on fate on how low your willing to go.

On another note....get some class guys. Do you really think Skyway guys are going to look at an Expressjet/AWAC guy diffrerently than they do a Mesa guy if this whole thing goes through. Do you really think by constantly repeating "We's Rich B*tch, we don't work for free so it's ok!!!" that they will find some comfort in that?

This whole thing is f*cked up, but fortunately for some and unfortunately for others none of us have any say in it. Let it play out.

 

[BoilerUP]

I agree with avrodriver.

Pilot costs at the regional level DO NOT make a difference in whether a company can place a competitive bid or not. Aircraft payments/leases are a much larger piece of that puzzle, and a buck or even three per hour difference in hourly rates isn't a make-or-break deal. Besides, Midwest's standards of service are so high Mesa doesn't have a chance in this RFP. Not a dig on the pilot group, just stating facts.

All that being said, I seriously doubt anybody wants Skyway pilots to lose jobs over this. The RJ would almost have to be additionaly frequency for the 717s, replace or supplement the 328Js on high-load routes, or new market expansion.

 

[FlyinPiker]

Additional details released from AWAC:

Midwest is looking for 15-25 50 seat aircraft (inclusive of one spare).

Aircraft will operate from both Kansas City and Milwaukee.

Aircraft will also be doing some point to point service.

Will operate under the Midwest Connect brand which includes serving cookies.

Carrier selected will need to provide optimal service.

Operation will need to be self financed.

Bid is due by June 30th.

No deadline as to when results will be released.

 

[EX_CV580FR8Dawg]

We should know by the end of the summer/early fall as to what the analysis brings.

 

[pilotmyf]

Don't get too excited man. I don't want these guys looking at us like we looked at the CHQ guys when the 69 planes thing came out. At least we can stand on our laurels in that we have the highest paid contract, and that is is possible to attract new buisness with a good contract. Of course we may not get any new flying and be screwed!

Why did CO reduce you guys in the first place?

 

[DrewBlows]

well they requested a bid from us for 25 planes so i guess thats the number they feel they want, wouldnt you agree?

I have flown for two regionals, Comair and Skyway. While at Skyway, they discussed flying for Delta and United. At Comair they discussed flying with Northwest and United. The level of discussions varied but do you see my point?

 

[mckpickle]

I agree with avrodriver.

Pilot costs at the regional level DO NOT make a difference in whether a company can place a competitive bid or not..

So than why have so many taken pay cuts or accepted sub-par contracts then?

 

[mckpickle]

Why did CO reduce you guys in the first place?

To diversify the feed as well as reduce the number of RJ's flying the CAL brand. We are more expensive than other carriers. But do those other carriers offer a 99.92-.97% completion factor?

 

[mckpickle]

Umm... if you are talking about your pilot contract... you are not the highest paid. Decent Contract? Yes. Highest paid.. no.

Compared to whom? Apples to apples.