dondk said:
XJ has a 2nd certificate, what can you do with it? I thought it was fairly well restricted to secure XJ's pilots jobs.
You are talking about Big Sky. This has nothing to do with Big Sky in any way.
9E has a 2nd certificate with no restrictions
I heard you were working on one. Do you have it now? What does NWA think about that?
NWA is going to file chapt 7, so they cannot finance any new a/c.
Wrong. They are going to file Chapter 11 (re-org) not 7 (liquidate). Also, they can finance new aircraft if they are cheaper to obtain and operate than the Dinosaur-9's. Being in Chapter 11 doesn't mean you can't obtain and finance new aircraft. It is all about how you organize to get out of bankruptcy. That might be just what they need to return to profitability. Well, that and the price of oil falling back down...
9E has had the financing for new a/c for about 12 months now, what does XJ have for financing new aircraft?
Kmox said it. $100 million plus in the bank. Plus, if they are flown for NWA neither XJ nor 9E will own their own planes. NWA doesn't play that way.
Staffing is an issue, but why if no more jets are we still hiring? Pinch-a-nickle does not sacrafice profits for reserves sitting doing nothing when they have a great JM and Extension policy they have been using for the last 6 months.
Because you have to cancel flights and give them to XJ... that's why you are hiring. 9E isn't "ramping up" for anything, they are trying to CYA with the flying they have.
There are a lot more reasons for XJ to get 70 seaters than 9E. Most likely, they would replace the Avros which means no growth, just shiny new planes. (SJS, anyone?) Let's face it: NWA is not happy with 9E right now. Anyone in the know can tell you that. I'm not hating on 9E, just telling it like it is. The odds of 9E getting new planes while in pilot contract talks are slim to none. Awarding growth before a new deal gives all the power to the pilots, and 9E and NWA won't allow that to happen.
This could all be a giant smoke screen (which it very well may be), however the new XJ VP of flight ops is telling all the pilots 70 and/or 90 seaters will be on the property within a year. Obviously the boys at NWA have the say.
I think it is obvious of the game NWA is playing. I do agree we are all pawns in it as well.