US Airways posts loss. . .

[mamba20]

In light of the recent first quarter loss reported by USAIR and the talks of a merger with AWA and or Air Canada, I'm curious what peoples thoughts are on the future for US Air.

 

[PHXFLYR]

As long as USAir continues to have a strong presence out of DCA, and as long as those losers in congress need a quick way to get home on weekends,then their future is assured. If they should start selling DC assets, its all over.


PHXFLYR

 

[slowto250]

Hope those remaining find some sort of success in a merger/buyout. Might be their only chance of survival. It may be just my skewed perspective, gleaned from word of mouth from my circle of friends over there but.....
looks like guys are bailing faster than deckhands on the Titanic.

 

[CWI]

This boat has been sinking since an ex-bagage handler took over as CEO!

 

[CapnVegetto]

USAir just needs to DIE. Their loads were higher last quarter than they've ever been, and they STILL lost a ton of money. Just DIE already!! Or merge, or SOMETHING.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

I think they are.....slowly. USAir continues to get smaller and smaller. And the debt and BK bills continue to escalate.

 

[CWI]

You have to wonder what the CEO of AWA is thinking or whoever is running the show over there?

Who would want to merge their airline with one that lost almost 200 million in one quarter? Not to mention US Airways past record of loosing money and aquiring debt!

Maybe I'm missing the big picture?

I have many freinds at US Airways and would hate to see so many people loose their jobs. Maybe the whole industry needs to look at ticket prices and what they can do to bring some sense of strength back to our airline industry?

 

[CACTUS A-320]

The folks running the show at AWA know exactly what they are doing and know far more about the particulars of this situation than any of us will ever. Any deal will, I think, look less like a "merger" and more like AWA picking valuable assets- not the entire Airways you see now. With Airways in BK, our CEO has said this is to our advantage, being able to restructure leases for example. Don't look for AWA to inherit much debt out of this or give up ANY cash. This would be a very complex deal, many parties involved, but only executed if makes sense to us. Our AWA management team (very highly regarded) would run the new, larger airline and do a better job controlling costs than currently done at Airways.

 

[Hpilot]

Awa/usair

Cactus A320,

From what I have seen so far I agree. Parker seems to be very sharp, especially for his young age. I just hope he actually cares about what may happen to the pilots if this happens. With junior guys at USAir being at 15yrs we all know it could get ugly. I wonder why it is such a big deal for us to expand east? I realize 2/3 of the population is out east, but there is also 80% of the competition.

 

[oldxfr8dog]

Cactus A320,

From what I have seen so far I agree. Parker seems to be very sharp, especially for his young age. I just hope he actually cares about what may happen to the pilots if this happens. With junior guys at USAir being at 15yrs we all know it could get ugly. I wonder why it is such a big deal for us to expand east? I realize 2/3 of the population is out east, but there is also 80% of the competition.

Seems like fences would preclude any furlough of HP pilots, but all further growth (hiring) would instead come from (much more senior) furloughed Airways recalls and therefore all upgrades of HP f/o s would come to a screeching halt.
I guess all this is meaningless until the MECs hammer out an agreement...

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Oh don't worry. The US Airways MEC will sacrifice the furloughees in exchange for packets of brown-mustard in the crew meals. (tongue-in-cheek, but honestly i'm certain that the AAA MEC will sell the furloughees in exchange for a slightly better integration than they may otherwise have gotten).

Your career expectations will likely not be harmed in the slightest.

I sincerely doubt that, if a merger takes place, you will ever see a US Airways furloughee recalled to the newly merged company.

 

[PHXFLYR]

The east coast might have 80% of total industry competition concentrated there, but it is also where over 70% of this country's wealth is centered. That's why Parker and the boys want to,at the very least,get their foot in the door. Sorta like "Go East Young Man"

PHXFLYR

 

[PHXFLYR]

Parker could care less about his pilot work force. A few years ago, he had the first of his "Town Hall" meetings. A 14 year Capt stands up introduces himself and proceeds to ask about when he can expect a company defined benefit retirement plan and industry standard wages. (this meeting occured PRIOR to 9/11 and while the AWA pilots were at the negotiating table.) Parker's response? "If you want industry standard wages and a company pension,you're working at the wrong airline...if you want to have FUN, your at the right place " That 14 yr Capt and a buddy of his with 12 yrs senority left the company shortly after the meeting and are now senior Capts at Jet Blue today. For you USAir types out there thinking that this place might be your salvation,think again....

PHXFLYR

 

[TheDonger]

Not looking for a savior. Just trying to keep flying man. The employees at US Airways have already given more than their fair share. It disturbs me to no end to read some of the aformentioned posts hoping we "die already." Get over yourselves. Most of us have families to feed. I guess you'd like to see them go hungry you selfish bast*&ds.

 

[slowto250]

Not looking for a savior. Just trying to keep flying man. The employees at US Airways have already given more than their fair share. It disturbs me to no end to read some of the aformentioned posts hoping we "die already." Get over yourselves. Most of us have families to feed. I guess you'd like to see them go hungry you selfish bast*&ds.

Don't allow a couple of idiots to dim your hopes. The majority of your peers are pulling for you. I honestly think that most, if not all of the USAIR pilots will land on their feet, when this all shakes out. Might be a change in uniforms or domiciles invoved, but you'll have plenty of company with which to commiserate. Just like they say at the AA and GA meetings : One day at a time.

 

[mamba20]

Slow, awesome post man, its nice to see some positive light focused for a change. . . we need more posts like that on this board. Coming to this site will just about drive you to drink.

 

[cactuspilot]

Parker could care less about his pilot work force. A few years ago, he had the first of his "Town Hall" meetings. A 14 year Capt stands up introduces himself and proceeds to ask about when he can expect a company defined benefit retirement plan and industry standard wages. (this meeting occured PRIOR to 9/11 and while the AWA pilots were at the negotiating table.) Parker's response? "If you want industry standard wages and a company pension,you're working at the wrong airline...if you want to have FUN, your at the right place " That 14 yr Capt and a buddy of his with 12 yrs senority left the company shortly after the meeting and are now senior Capts at Jet Blue today. For you USAir types out there thinking that this place might be your salvation,think again....

PHXFLYR

I remember that day well, great way to make a first impression! Several of us bolted shortly after that....
He's a Franke clone if ya ask me

 

[PHXFLYR]

I remember that day well, great way to make a first impression! Several of us bolted shortly after that....
He's a Franke clone if ya ask me

Without a doubt!! If I were 10 years younger, I'd think about doing the same thing.....


PHXFLYR

 

[DR Beeper]

My Cactus buddy and I giggle about this potential merger all the time. We compare seniority lists and retirements, fleet size and cities served, pros and convicts. It's a lot of pipe smoke that we both enjoy with some good cheap scotch (Lismore single malt). US Airways needs an exit plan and AWA needs to expand quickly to fight off SWA. If AWA was merged or aquired by something bigger or stronger the pilots would face unfavorable odds with integration. With AWA and USA, the arbitration judge would historically choose the least expensive integration (ie training costs). This would favor everybody keeps flying. Furloughed guys would have an eventual option of recall with the massive USA retirements over the next five years as compared to their current situation.

We both want to salvage an airline career and keep flying. Hopefully together making some good coin for a profitable company that will hire pilots.

 

[Boeingman]

And this merger will fix U's cost and debt problem how? It is amazing these idiots running airlines can never figure out that the core and fundamental problems that get companies like U to where they are today, do not magically vanish with a merger.

If it is true and they are really serious, you folks at AWA better pray for a miracle. This thing reminds me (in reverse) of the CAL/PEX merger. Except CAL didn't face a formidable and well run competitor on their turf. Why AWA doesn't want to wait for the eventual asset sell off and aquire this hornest nest is odd.

Southwest will eat this combined company alive while the combo will try and digest a myriad of problems inherient during a merger.