realitycheck
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2003
- Posts
- 35
I just got the final lines for my domicile today... there are several lines with 18+ days off. Here's my take-
The airlines needed something to hang their hat on after the dismal summer of 2001, and they got it- September 11th. No, it wasn't idiotic management of an airline, it was terrorists that caused thousands of furloughs. Yeah right.
Now they need it again... at least for United and Delta. And I believe they've found it- the "war schedule." Certainly I understand that between SARS and the war, international travel is at an all-time low, especially for Pac-rim destinations (and consequently SkyWest passengers).
I think we'll come out of this war with the same schedule. This is analogous to the city that raises sales taxes by 1/2% to build a sports stadium or whatever, and when the impetus is gone the tax remains. When the war is gone, the schedules will remain reduced.
Subsequently, SkyWest is going to be forced to furlough, IMHO. SkyWest has never furloughed before you say... well, the Green Bay Packers never lost a home playoff game until last year. And now the proverbial monkey is off their back. First time for everything. Same with SkyWest... blame a furlough on United and Delta, who'll blame it on the war and September 11th... no, don't blame it on mismanagement. I don't hear Southwest singing the blues.
Moreover, I just received a letter from AMR corp (as a shareholder, yeah bad investment). They've identified $2 billion in cost savings per year. How do you "discover" $2 billion in cost savings? The US government discovers $2 billion in savings, not a freakin' airline. Of that $2 billion, let's say $1 billion is actually justified. That still leaves $1 billion in mismanagement... malpractice actually.
Anyway... in my opinion furloughs are coming to SkyWest. If they have a rabbit in the hat or an ace up their sleeve in terms of other code shares (e.g., Continental), I suggest they let people know. From their perspective, a furlough now conventiently and justifiably gets the monkey off their back in never having to furlough; and future pressure to not furlough in the future will be significantly less.
Just my $0.02
The airlines needed something to hang their hat on after the dismal summer of 2001, and they got it- September 11th. No, it wasn't idiotic management of an airline, it was terrorists that caused thousands of furloughs. Yeah right.
Now they need it again... at least for United and Delta. And I believe they've found it- the "war schedule." Certainly I understand that between SARS and the war, international travel is at an all-time low, especially for Pac-rim destinations (and consequently SkyWest passengers).
I think we'll come out of this war with the same schedule. This is analogous to the city that raises sales taxes by 1/2% to build a sports stadium or whatever, and when the impetus is gone the tax remains. When the war is gone, the schedules will remain reduced.
Subsequently, SkyWest is going to be forced to furlough, IMHO. SkyWest has never furloughed before you say... well, the Green Bay Packers never lost a home playoff game until last year. And now the proverbial monkey is off their back. First time for everything. Same with SkyWest... blame a furlough on United and Delta, who'll blame it on the war and September 11th... no, don't blame it on mismanagement. I don't hear Southwest singing the blues.
Moreover, I just received a letter from AMR corp (as a shareholder, yeah bad investment). They've identified $2 billion in cost savings per year. How do you "discover" $2 billion in cost savings? The US government discovers $2 billion in savings, not a freakin' airline. Of that $2 billion, let's say $1 billion is actually justified. That still leaves $1 billion in mismanagement... malpractice actually.
Anyway... in my opinion furloughs are coming to SkyWest. If they have a rabbit in the hat or an ace up their sleeve in terms of other code shares (e.g., Continental), I suggest they let people know. From their perspective, a furlough now conventiently and justifiably gets the monkey off their back in never having to furlough; and future pressure to not furlough in the future will be significantly less.
Just my $0.02