New letter from Airtran's Joe Leonard regarding Midwest

[Kharma Police]

get over it. they are fighting a growing major carrier from buying them. they would fight tooth and nail over a regional carrier from buying them. i am sure skywest management wants another ALPA carrier under its belt to further pressure its bread and butter to adopt ALPA.

perhaps the $1.8 billion in debt skywest has should concern you.

I would be concerned if I was a Midwest pilot and watched the future growth promised by my management go to Skywest.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070410/aqtu089.html?.v=4

 

[Eagle757shark]

Read my statement again, second sentence. I don't understand why a line pilot for FL would care what the MEH MEC thinks. The MEC's opinion is in response to what they know of each companies business plans. I'm sure ALpa's past dealings with Joe, Kolski and the Lorenzo disciples on the board sure doesn't give them a warm fuzzy.

It's not in any way shape or form a statment about either pilot group.

How do you know that our management hasn't given us anything for our support?

OK......It was the Midwest MEC that first said they were neutral and then changed their minds. What changed?
Next, compare the two business plans both filed with the Security and Exchange. If there is some secret game plan they have shared with the Midwest MEC, they may have a bigger problem with the SEC and the shareholders. By the way that last statement you made about your management giving you something, just read their business plan....IT SPEAKS VERY LOUDLY WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED! Based off the facts that your management has filed with the SEC, management has given your flying and growth opportunities to Skywest! (OH...FOR YOUR SUPPORT)

 

[likeitis]

OK......It was the Midwest MEC that first said they were neutral and then changed their minds. What changed?
Next, compare the two business plans both filed with the Security and Exchange. If there is some secret game plan they have shared with the Midwest MEC, they may have a bigger problem with the SEC and the shareholders. By the way that last statement you made about your management giving you something, just read their business plan....IT SPEAKS VERY LOUDLY WHAT THEY HAVE PLANNED! Based off the facts that your management has filed with the SEC, management has given your flying and growth opportunities to Skywest! (OH...FOR YOUR SUPPORT)

Ever heard of letters of confidentiality? All the members of the MEC and even the office secretary had to sign the letters. So there is no SEC or shareholder problems.

 

[CitationLover]

I would be concerned if I was a Midwest pilot and watched the future growth promised by my management go to Skywest.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070410/aqtu089.html?.v=4

i am sure they are just as concerned as delta's and united's pilots are about skywest.

 

[Kharma Police]

i am sure they are just as concerned as delta's and united's pilots are about skywest.

Not a good comparison between DAL/UAL and Midwest (or Frontier) in terms of regional jet flying block hours. Like comparing an ant hill to the Sears Tower. Midwest has a much higher percentage compared to DAL/UAL of subsidiary flying.

 

[CitationLover]

Not a good comparison between DAL/UAL and Midwest (or Frontier) in terms of regional jet flying block hours. Like comparing an ant hill to the Sears Tower. Midwest has a much higher percentage compared to DAL/UAL of subsidiary flying.

do you have hard numbers to back this up? read united's and delta's latest 10-K's and annual reports. all of their regional affiliates are the fastest growing blocks of flying. sure it is not a good sign at midwest, but that doesn't mean skywest is buying them as you say. look at the breakdown of their asm's between mainline and affiliate. then look at midwest/skyway, but add 300% to skyway's to approx. skywest and you will see they are pretty similar to delta and united (about 20-25% of ASM's).

 

[Kharma Police]

do you have hard numbers to back this up? read united's and delta's latest 10-K's and annual reports. all of their regional affiliates are the fastest growing blocks of flying. sure it is not a good sign at midwest, but that doesn't mean skywest is buying them as you say. look at the breakdown of their asm's between mainline and affiliate. then look at midwest/skyway, but add 300% to skyway's to approx. skywest and you will see they are pretty similar to delta and united (about 20-25% of ASM's).

If you are fine with the growth of Skywest at your company than more power to you. AirTran is offering 737/717s flown by Midwest pilots, not an RJ flown by another carrier. AirTran tried RJs for awhile then realized that we could make more money without them, hopefully you guys will have different and better results.

 

[CitationLover]

If you are fine with the growth of Skywest at your company than more power to you. AirTran is offering 737/717s flown by Midwest pilots, not an RJ flown by another carrier. AirTran tried RJs for awhile then realized that we could make more money without them, hopefully you guys will have different and better results.

i don't think anyone is "fine" with regional flying or the growth of it at midwest, it is simply a response to your smartalecky "skywest" purchase comment.

we will know the direction of this deal by the end of the week.

 

[Kharma Police]

i don't think anyone is "fine" with regional flying or the growth of it at midwest, it is simply a response to your smartalecky "skywest" purchase comment.

we will know the direction of this deal by the end of the week.

My apologies, but if we don't buy you, someone else will. The same holds true for AirTran.

 

[CitationLover]

My apologies, but if we don't buy you, someone else will. The same holds true for AirTran.

yes, frank lorenzo said that one time!

i would imagine 100% of the people wish for air tran than skywest. it is fear of the unknown that is driving the debate (if there is any) within the midwest pilots. at least with no air tran deal, it is the status quo. again i am not a midwest pilot yet, flywolf could better answer the internal debate.

personally, I like the smaller airline, knowing most people you work with, niche carrier feel.

 

[Flydaplane]

Simple, with a merger the MEH MEC goes away (after the integration period) and they actually have to fly the line. Power drives men to do strange things. I wonder how many of their trips have been dropped over the past year for "union business"? Oh yea, we can't see that because they've "blocked" their schedules. "We're not trying to hide anything" "we just do this for personal reasons"...yeah right!

 

[Donsa320]

Simple, with a merger the MEH MEC goes away (after the integration period) and they actually have to fly the line. Power drives men to do strange things. I wonder how many of their trips have been dropped over the past year for "union business"? Oh yea, we can't see that because they've "blocked" their schedules. "We're not trying to hide anything" "we just do this for personal reasons"...yeah right!

In the past on many carriers, the MEC Chairman NEVER flew. This was to protect him from any hostage taking. If you don't know what that means you have not been around long enough.

 

[CitationLover]

In the past on many carriers, the MEC Chairman NEVER flew. This was to protect him from any hostage taking. If you don't know what that means you have not been around long enough.

i'll second that. even some other ALPA personnel (like the grievance chairman) are alloted this also.

 

[CitationLover]

well they said no thanks.

http://www.midwestairlines.com/MAWeb/midwestMiles/programNewsDisplay.aspx?id=26

the biggest catch for me was this statement.

"As of March 31, 2007, Midwest had approximately $171 million of cash, representing more than $6.50 per share. According to AirTran, the cash portion of the revised offer and related expenses is approximately $240 million. Therefore, Midwest's cash on hand represents more than 70% of the cash estimated by AirTran necessary to complete the proposed acquisition."

i know the conspiracy theorists would like to say this is tim's doing, but the decision was unanimous by the board and goldman sachs told them don't do it. you've got to admit its a little fishy to have originally offered less than the cash on hand at midwest and now only a 30% premium over said amount (excluding the 51% stock swap).

 

[mnboyev]

Here fishy fishy....yup..fishy..flat out fishy...