See ya Big Sky

[Flybywire44]

Big Sky Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, Inc., today announced that its east coast operations will cease service at Midnight on January 7, 2008. Big Sky will continue to operate in Montana while it works to transition its services to another carrier. ?? "Our eastern operations were dramatically affected by a combination of unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue and record high fuel prices," said Fred deLeeuw, Big Sky's president. "We have great people who have worked extraordinarily hard, but that factor could not overcome the challenges we faced, and we no longer believe that we can reach sustained profitability."
Big Sky began its eastern operations in April 2007 as a Delta Connection codeshare partner, primarily operating out of Boston's Logan Airport. The decision to cease operations was mutually agreed to by Big Sky and Delta. Customers holding reservations on flights scheduled after the cessation of operations will be contacted by Delta regarding accommodation options.
The jobs of approximately 140 Big Sky employees - primarily located in Boston, Watertown, NY and Covington, KY - will be eliminated. The company has engaged a broker to assist in the sale of the aircraft used in the eastern operations. ABOUT THE COMPANY

So much for the cheapest pilot contract!!!!

You posted this with a smiley face? Idiot.

 

[exeagle]

You posted this with a smiley face? Idiot.

Don't worry, karma's a $itch. Let him gloat if he wants.

 

[contrail67]

how do you figure? aren't they the highest paid 1900 pilots out there?

Who else operates a 1900? Yes that makes you the highest paid...I don't know Colgans rates...maybe within a $1 or so. Mesaba was totally shafted by the threat of BigSky 2 contracts ago and spelled out and limited scope in exchange for a higher pay....since Big Sky had the cheapest contract. It is sad that a company was used like this......hopefully this will make a statement of threats and reality.

 

[USCtrojan]

Big Sky

Big Sky Pilots, good luck to you. This absolutely sucks. As somebody else pointed out, everyone is desperate for pilots now so you will be hired elsewhere immediately--especially with your experience. Good luck and God Bless,

Trojan

 

[thepotato232]

It will be ZK, you heard it here first.

As much as the guys in Cheyenne would love to swoop in and take all of that flying, we don't have the planes, pilots or money to handle it. We're still just barely getting our STL and PHX flying done as it is, and we had to turn down the Milwaukee flying altogether. The flying we were awarded out west in CA is a toss-up as well.

Who else operates a 1900? Yes that makes you the highest paid...

Well, there's Colgan, Great Lakes, Gulfstream and Mesa, to name some the bigger players. Big Sky has (had) pay and work rules superior to all of the above, and not all that far below XJ and their Saabs. 1900s and their pilots are cheaper, plain and simple. If XJ couldn't compete with the smaller guys on some of these routes, it's not Big Sky's fault. Best of luck to those still over at Big Sky. I knew a lot of folks over there who saw the writing on the wall and were trying to get out, and I don't think too many of them will have much trouble finding a decent deal. With RJ operations taking wet-ink Comm/Multi pilots left and right, a small group of displaced turboprop drivers should find work pretty quickly.

 

[Deadalus]

Big Sky Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, Inc., today announced that its east coast operations will cease service at Midnight on January 7, 2008. Big Sky will continue to operate in Montana while it works to transition its services to another carrier. ?? "Our eastern operations were dramatically affected by a combination of unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue and record high fuel prices," said Fred deLeeuw, Big Sky's president. "We have great people who have worked extraordinarily hard, but that factor could not overcome the challenges we faced, and we no longer believe that we can reach sustained profitability."
Big Sky began its eastern operations in April 2007 as a Delta Connection codeshare partner, primarily operating out of Boston's Logan Airport. The decision to cease operations was mutually agreed to by Big Sky and Delta. Customers holding reservations on flights scheduled after the cessation of operations will be contacted by Delta regarding accommodation options.
The jobs of approximately 140 Big Sky employees - primarily located in Boston, Watertown, NY and Covington, KY - will be eliminated. The company has engaged a broker to assist in the sale of the aircraft used in the eastern operations. ABOUT THE COMPANY

So much for the cheapest pilot contract!!!!

Hey ****************************** bag. They are by far the highest paid 1900 pilots around. I was there when Mesaba bought Big Sky. When your wonderfull management mentioned having us take over your aircraft and routes our guys(UTU) walked out of the room. ALPA probably never mentioned that to you did they....idiot.:angryfire

 

[brokedash]

As much as the guys in Cheyenne would love to swoop in and take all of that flying, we don't have the planes, pilots or money to handle it. We're still just barely getting our STL and PHX flying done as it is, and we had to turn down the Milwaukee flying altogether. The flying we were awarded out west in CA is a toss-up as well.



Well, there's Colgan, Great Lakes, Gulfstream and Mesa, to name some the bigger players. Big Sky has (had) pay and work rules superior to all of the above, and not all that far below XJ and their Saabs. 1900s and their pilots are cheaper, plain and simple. If XJ couldn't compete with the smaller guys on some of these routes, it's not Big Sky's fault. Best of luck to those still over at Big Sky. I knew a lot of folks over there who saw the writing on the wall and were trying to get out, and I don't think too many of them will have much trouble finding a decent deal. With RJ operations taking wet-ink Comm/Multi pilots left and right, a small group of displaced turboprop drivers should find work pretty quickly.

Mesa wants nothing more to do w/ 1900s sans the few they have left to keep ZV alive.

Gulfstream would face operational and logistical challenges opening ops in a part of the country with far different climate than they are used to. Even with a seasoned base of Big Sky vets, the company is still well rooted in the Sunshine State and would have heavy challenges in operating somewhere outside their home enviorment.

Colgan, now that's an interesting thought, but there mgmt. would probably botch things long before ops got started...oh, and don't they have a pilot shortage and poor pay?

GLA, if what is posted above is accurate, apperantly dosen't have they logistical ability to complete the transaction of service right now.

Well, there is still Cummute Air and who knows what might happen. Cities depending on those services might ban togther to get something going to keep the intra MT ops running.

Any rate, best of luck to the Big Sky folks and hopefully things will fair better for you at the next stop.

 

[captain dad]

latest article from my girl Liz

How much do you think Paul gets for running the company into the ground?

http://www.startribune.com/business/12681302.html

good luck guys.

 

[OCP]

Don't worry, karma's a $itch. Let him gloat if he wants.

Dude... will you just hurry up and pick an airline that will stick around for more than 6 months!?

 

[Flybywire44]

It would seem that Mesaba dodged the bullet.

 

[JPAustin]

Big Sky Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAIR Holdings, Inc., today announced that its east coast operations will cease service at Midnight on January 7, 2008. Big Sky will continue to operate in Montana while it works to transition its services to another carrier. ?? "Our eastern operations were dramatically affected by a combination of unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue and record high fuel prices," said Fred deLeeuw, Big Sky's president. "We have great people who have worked extraordinarily hard, but that factor could not overcome the challenges we faced, and we no longer believe that we can reach sustained profitability."
Big Sky began its eastern operations in April 2007 as a Delta Connection codeshare partner, primarily operating out of Boston's Logan Airport. The decision to cease operations was mutually agreed to by Big Sky and Delta. Customers holding reservations on flights scheduled after the cessation of operations will be contacted by Delta regarding accommodation options.
The jobs of approximately 140 Big Sky employees - primarily located in Boston, Watertown, NY and Covington, KY - will be eliminated. The company has engaged a broker to assist in the sale of the aircraft used in the eastern operations. ABOUT THE COMPANY

So much for the cheapest pilot contract!!!!

What... no response yet??? You freakin' coward.

Big Sky pilots are the highest paid B1900 pilots out there. Even if this is your version of flame for your own sick pleasure, you should be banned from FI. I say we start a poll on whether this guy should be banned!

BTW -- It seems you might be a little biased... hmm... I wonder what carrier flies (or has flown) the Ba146 AND SF-340 AND SA227??? A little disgrunted are we?

 

[Propsync]

Curious, do you think they're dumping BigSky just because they were only purchased to beat on the Mesaba pilots for their contract?

 

[JPAustin]

Curious, do you think they're dumping BigSky just because they were only purchased to beat on the Mesaba pilots for their contract?

I would've thought Big Sky would've been spun off once their usefulness was gone (post TA), but perhaps MAIR kept it in the back pocket until NWA bought Mesaba. But you are right, the Big Sky purchase was done for malevolent schemes to hurt the contract negotiations and scare the pilot group... and it worked.

But that isn't any of the pilot group's fault, this is purely a management being management issue. I've said it once, I'll say it again, managements will always be 3 steps ahead of ALPA and laugh while the pilots point fingers at each other. Kind of like Flightinfo.com (you know there are management lurkers here! )

 

[PCL_128]

Curious, do you think they're dumping BigSky just because they were only purchased to beat on the Mesaba pilots for their contract?

Of course. Big Sky was a money-loser from the day it was purchased. Its entire purpose was to whipsaw the XJ pilots. Now that that worthless POS Foley doesn't have the Mesaba pilots to push around anymore, he has no use for Big Sky. A perfect picture of the moral bankruptcy surrounding airline management.

 

[Propsync]

So is the next move to put the SAAB's over to Colgan?

 

[mvedepo]

Ban him

I vote to ban this idiot.

You don't kick people when they are down. We dont need tools like you in this forum.

 

[Propsync]

Hey Mike, where are you these days? A320? Did you leave Evergreen?

For the record, I don't want it to happen, but I wouldn't be suprised if it did.

 

[mvedepo]

Yeah I left Evergreen after I got full custody of my daughter. Couldn't do the 16 days on anymore so I took a job at Frontier. Still having a great time. Where are you now?

 

[contrail67]

Big Sky To Close, MAIR To Liquidate

By Gregory Polek
December 20, 2007
Air Transport and Cargo

MAIR Holdings announced yesterday that its Big Sky Airlines subsidiary will end all its Delta Connection service on the East Coast as of midnight on January 7. The company will then attempt to “transition” its Billings, Mont.-based operation to another airline, distribute any remaining cash to shareholders and completely liquidate sometime next year, said MAIR president Paul Foley during a conference call this morning. Delta has recruited wholly owned subsidiary Comair to assume responsibility for part of the 16-city Eastern network.

Meanwhile, MAIR has entered negotiations with another carrier, reportedly Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Great Lakes Aviation, to assume control of Big Sky’s Billings-based EAS markets. Foley attributed the decision to shut down to unusually bad weather, high fuel costs and “disappointing” revenue from the Boston-based operation, established in April in an effort to counter losses generated by its Western network.

This is what Paul Foley does - He steps into a company and ruins it. It started with the games he played against XJ pilots by acquiring Big Sky to be an alter-ego. When that didn't go completely as planned he ruined Big Sky with his poor airline management.

Such a shame

Exactly !and that is why it is good that the plan of buying a alter-ego carrier did not work in the end....like I said I am happy this is in Foleys face...but the Mesaba pilots had to negotiate less wages to PROTECT THEIR JOBS!. And yes Foley was gloating that he had the cheapest pilot contract out there at the time. I hope all of you get hired by a better company!...it does suck but we have to put a end to buying alter-ego companies to whipsaw ones in negotiations....PERIOD.

 

[JPAustin]

Exactly !and that is why it is good that the plan of buying a alter-ego carrier did not work in the end....like I said I am happy this is in Foleys face...but the Mesaba pilots had to negotiate less wages to PROTECT THEIR JOBS!. And yes Foley was gloating that he had the cheapest pilot contract out there at the time. I hope all of you get hired by a better company!...it does suck but we have to put a end to buying alter-ego companies to whipsaw ones in negotiations....PERIOD.

Eh, Foley doesn't care one bit. He gets his bonus and options none-the-less because those are a part of his half-a-mil base salary. Foley cares not for anyone below his tax bracket.

I know what Paul Foley does, and it involves wool coats.