Please explain Pinnacle vs. Northwest Ai

[ProPilot5]

How does Pinnacle fit into Northwest Airlink? Is Pinnacle the company or Northwest Airlink?

How does the company naming work?

 

[sf3boy]

ProPilot5,
Northwest Airlink is just a term that Northwest Airlines gives to a few regional airlines that fly routes for them, much like US Airways Express is made up of Mesa, PSA, Allegheny, etc.....Pinnacle and Mesaba are just airlines that are paid by NWA to fly routes for them. (there are a couple others too) NWA has controlling interest in stocks at Mesaba and wholly owns Pinnacle. Hope this helps. If anyone else can explain better or add more, please do.

 

[jarhead]

Same as Delta Connection Inc (DCI) having Comair, ASA, etc under it's umbrella. N.W. Airlink is the marketing arm of Mesaba and Pinnacle airlines

 

[tittyjet]

NWA is using PCL stock to fund the NWA pension plan.....the older guys at NWA have a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of the airline. NWA has announced that the remaining 34 CRJ orders will go to PCL. the pilot grounp will nearly double in the next few years.

Check out the press releases at www.nwa.com and www.nwairlink.com

 

[JJJ]

What it comes down to is NWA calls Mesaba and Pinnacle "NWAirlink" so that pax will think that they are actually flying on Mainline. It looks like NWA, smells like NWA, but it is not NWA.

On the down side, when a passenger sees a NWA flight number, they automatically think that they are going to be flying on a 747 from DTW to CAK.

 

[BankAccount=0$]

. On the down side, when a passenger sees a NWA flight number, they automatically think that they are going to be flying on a 747 from DTW to CAK.

Yeah, thats no joke!! I was expecting a 74 to taxi up at CAK, and all I got was a SAAB-340 with a bad gear position light. We circled Detroit for like a half an hour trying to get it to indicate the gear was down. That being said, the crew was VERY professional in their explaning to the pax what was going on, and what to expect upon arrival in Detroit (like the crash trucks). All went well, and the world was spared another SAAB from heading to the desert.

 

[ProPilot5]

So are you looking at working for a company, are you working for Pinnacle or Northwest Airlink, who would you apply to? Are you applying to Northwest Airlink or Pinnacle? Both have the same address and seemingly same interviews.

Thanks.

 

[JJJ]

Apply to Pinnacle

 

[FlyForFood_NOT]

ProPilot, with your TT time you could probably apply only to Pinnacle, and god know's if that's even enough for them.

Mainline Northwest Airlines is actually laying pilots off, so definitelly no luck there. Most are "flowing back" to Pinnacle, chosing that rather than being out on the street without a flying job... good luck

 

[Beerme]

Mainline Northwest Airlines is actually laying pilots off, so definitelly no luck there. Most are "flowing back" to Pinnacle, chosing that rather than being out on the street without a flying job... good luck [/B][/QUOTE]

Not quite. Very few have opted to go to Pinnacle. Our furloughed guys have enough experience and flight time either thru military or civilian...so they don't need the time. When you can make more money doing just about anything else, why go to a commuter? Some have for their own reasons, but most have not.

 

[Beerme]

NWA is using PCL stock to fund the NWA pension plan.....the older guys at NWA have a vested interest in the growth and prosperity of the airline.

Pinnacle guys shouldn't get all warm and comfy just because NWA mgt did this. The PCL stock makes up only about 7%-8% of the total value, and if the stock tanks, the company is still obligated at the funded rate.

 

[CWASaab]

ProPilot:

NWA management has done a great job of turning Express Airlines, One into Pinnacle and also effectively Northwest Airlink, clouding the identity of that company.

What has been said here is pretty much true, NWAirlink is basically equivalent to united express, us airways express, delta connection, etc. There are however more than just two airlines that operate as NW Airlinks. Besides the larger two, Pinnacle and Mesaba, Big Sky also operates as NW Airlink.

There are other airlines that feed into NWAs system but are not considered NWAirlink, like Eagle in LAX or Horizon in SEA.

Back to your original question, all of the NWA Crjs are operated by Pinnacle Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of NWA, Inc.

However, and probably because they are wholly owned, the name Pinnacle is somewhat in the shadows. Seems the folks that run PCL are happy just being known as NWA Airlink. Reference the company website is http://www.nwairlink.com, not anything with pinnacle in the URL.

Also, if you have ever ridden with them, the only thing that says Pinnacle is the small type on the outside of the plane. None of the flight or cabin crew members have ever said the 'p' word over the PA while I have been onboard. It is always referred to as NW Airlink.

I have found it to be a striking contrast to the practice here at mesaba, where we take just about every opportunity to let the folks know they are riding on a "NW Airlink flight operated by Mesaba Airlines". It is even written that way in the FA's scripted announcements.

As far as where to apply, for what you are interested in NWAirlink and Pinnacle are one and the same. Apply to whatever address or fax number you find at the web site. Keep in mind however that the company is Pinnacle Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of NWA, Inc. d/b/a Northwest Airlink.

 

[DoinTime]

Pinnacle/Express Airlines I/Express Airlines II/Republic Express have never had a public identity. What is the point in confusing the passengers? We have always been known by Northwest Airlink (or Republic Express as it was).

We have a contract to provide Northwest with Airlink branded service, that is what we give them.

 

[DTWFO]

Seems the folks that run PCL are happy just being known as NWA Airlink. Reference the company website is http://www.nwairlink.com, not anything with pinnacle in the URL.


I have found it to be a striking contrast to the practice here at mesaba, where we take just about every opportunity to let the folks know they are riding on a "NW Airlink flight operated by Mesaba Airlines".
[/B]

First, the name most certainly is in the URL. The address for Pinnacle Airlines is: http://www.pinnacle-airlines.com

And second, you are correct that Mesaba makes it plainly clear that passengers are riding on Mesaba Airlines in every announcement that I have ever heard (at least in the DTW airport). However, since all of our, (read: Pinnacle) gate agents and ramp workers in both MSP and DTW work for Mesaba Airlines, what would be the incentive for them, (read: Mesaba mngmt) to promote a competitor???? Seems like if you want to hear "...operated by Pinnacle Airlines", then you should let your operations people know since Pinnacle has no control over it!!?? Just an observation. I would be more than happy to let passengers know they are flying on Pinnacle Airlines since everyone (including big NWA) thinks we are Mesaba anyway.

 

[CWASaab]

DTWFO,

First off, I guess I was wrong about the URL, of course it is the same exact website. Not to make excuses, but I based my statement mostly on the results of a google search. my bad.

As far as the other issue, reread my post, I clearly say I have never heard the p word ONBOARD from FLIGHT OR CABIN CREW.

Doin'time & dtwfo,

Relax guys, I am not trying to rag on 9E. I was merely pointing out a difference in operating philosophy between the operations, something I found to be interesting.

And as far as why we would want to tell the folks who they are flying on, well, perhaps because it is required by the FAA. Reservation agents at NWA are required to tell customers when they book that the flight is operated by an airline other than NWA. It is printed on their tickets. It is noted on their itinerary. It is written on the side of the plane. All because the people are confused. Yes many think that those CRJs, Saabs and Avros are operated by NWA, and in the eyes of the government that is bad.

 

[Rook]

Hey CWA dude,

No worries bro. Contrary to popular belief a lot of us pitiful...errr pinnacle guys care about Mesaba's plight. I picketed with them last fall and will again if they'll let me. Plus my ex-roommate was a mesaba pilot. (and she was HOTT)

Rook

600' AGL Autopilot on.
'WHEW!'

 

[ForgedBlade]

Now you have to tell us what happened to that Hottt former room-mate!

Say hi to all my former pals at 9E!