Why Was Comair Not Sold?

[JECKEL]

Why was Comair not sold?

This may be a bad sign for the pilots at Comair. Compass and Mesaba are sold off and Comair is left "in the bag".

Comair may not be a sellable Delta asset and because of this the writing may be one the wall ... a closing of the doors.

The Comair president did not present any comforting or assuring words for Comair pilots today when all he had to say is that Comair must remain focused on the short term and that the planned move to DTW is still going forward.

Work real hard right up to the very end!

 

[Raoul Duke]

who wants to buy 50 seat aircraft right now?

 

[Bugsmasher Plus]

Why was Comair not sold?

This may be a bad sign for the pilots at Comair. Compass and Mesaba are sold off and Comair is left "in the bag".

Comair may not be a sellable Delta asset and because of this the writing may be one the wall ... a closing of the doors.

The Comair president did not present any comforting or assuring words for Comair pilots today when all he had to say is that Comair must remain focused on the short term and that the planned move to DTW is still going forward.

Work real hard right up to the very end!

One of the Q & A this morning stated that DAL attempted to market Comair and the cost structure was simply too high.. nobody wanted it.

As somebody that was there through the 2001 work action, I can't help but think of the fact that the company went from being the most profitable regional of all time with an employee base that was making money hand over fist through their 401K plans and being sold to DAL in '98 for over 2 Billion (yes, with a "B") to a carrier that today practically can't be given away and nobody wants any part of.

Yep, JC.. the strike was worth it..

 

[WMUSIGPI]

It looks as if Comair may well be destined to be slowly parted out and fade into history...

 

[Full of LUV]

One of the Q & A this morning stated that DAL attempted to market Comair and the cost structure was simply too high.. nobody wanted it.

As somebody that was there through the 2001 work action, I can't help but think of the fact that the company went from being the most profitable regional of all time with an employee base that was making money hand over fist through their 401K plans and being sold to DAL in '98 for over 2 Billion (yes, with a "B") to a carrier that today practically can't be given away and nobody wants any part of.

Yep, JC.. the strike was worth it..

Comair has always been first.....
First to fly all jets...
First to demand livable regional wages.....
First to be too costly compared to cheaper upstarts.....

The main issue is their is no barrier to new entrants in the regional market. You obtain some jets or borrow them from a mainline carrier, hire some cheap pilots (the cheaper the better so if you can offer flow through or free hotel makes compensation lower) and compete against established carriers.
I suppose the same happens at mainline but the timeline is much more drawn out.
Best of luck Comair,
Luv

 

[WSurf]

It looks as if Comair may well be destined to be slowly parted out and fade into history...

Kinda Like Us at Piedmont Airlines.

 

[CX880]

Comair has always been first.....
First to fly all jets...
First to demand livable regional wages.....
First to be too costly compared to cheaper upstarts.....

The main issue is their is no barrier to new entrants in the regional market. You obtain some jets or borrow them from a mainline carrier, hire some cheap pilots (the cheaper the better so if you can offer flow through or free hotel makes compensation lower) and compete against established carriers.
I suppose the same happens at mainline but the timeline is much more drawn out.
Best of luck Comair,
Luv

I don't understand. So what you're saying is thank ALPA for trying to get you a better wage even though that same ALPA represented another pilot group to step in to take over you? Either you are not making sense or you just described the regional industry perfectly.

 

[sniper]

Comair has always been first.....
First to fly all jets...
First to demand livable regional wages.....
First to be too costly compared to cheaper upstarts.....

The main issue is their is no barrier to new entrants in the regional market. You obtain some jets or borrow them from a mainline carrier, hire some cheap pilots (the cheaper the better so if you can offer flow through or free hotel makes compensation lower) and compete against established carriers.
I suppose the same happens at mainline but the timeline is much more drawn out.
Best of luck Comair,
Luv

First to initiate PFT as well

 

[sniper]

Kinda Like Us at Piedmont Airlines.

PDT should fly all of the 700's and not PSA.

PSA should have only the 200.

ONE certificate, two pilot groups just like mainline and AWA

 

[Monster Buck]

comair didn't have a flow, thats why
but it won't be long

 

[bvt1151]

How long until we admit that the Comair pilots lost the strike. When they shut down? In fairness, it's not the Comair pilots who lost, it's every other pilot group out there who supported the CMR pilots sacrifice, then turned around and signed vastly inferior contracts. ALPA lost.

The day Comair shuts down should be a day of shame for every ALPA pilot.

 

[bob_sakamano]

comair didn't have a flow, thats why
but it won't be long

What do you mean? It won't be long for what?

 

[Bugsmasher Plus]

comair didn't have a flow, thats why
but it won't be long

Flow had nothing to do with it...

 

[CX880]

Why was Comair not sold?

!

Because they have nothing to offer and are too expensive. They're kind of like Eagle. I would imagine Mesa will have better luck with its garage sale.

 

[Full of LUV]

I don't understand. So what you're saying is thank ALPA for trying to get you a better wage even though that same ALPA represented another pilot group to step in to take over you? Either you are not making sense or you just described the regional industry perfectly.

Actually, I don't blame ALPA for anything, because all they do in reality is facilitate an individual pilot group into negotiating whatever they deem as fair. The problem with the regionals, is they can easily be whipsawed against eachother to the point where they have to be CHEAPER than the next group or they lose their contracts. Since mainline dictates the schedule and pays the fuel, and sometimes aircraft leases, the only competitive advantage one company can produce over another is LABOR.

My only solution to this was that ALPA should have published a minimum standard by which contracts would be judged. Those below this standard would not be allowed ALPA benefits, which I would have included the jumpseat.
The jumpseat has allowed companies to startup at far below actual livable wage costs because aircrew just "jumps" to work and back and accepts constant base changes. If the minimum contract per ALPA was required to provide access to the jumpseat, then companies would pay what is required to meet that minimum, otherwise you would never find labor for VA, Jetblue, etc, let alone most of the regionals who base out of NYC, LA etc.
ALPA should define the "profession" and then hold professionals accountable for their wages.
Do you think a plumber in NYC working for a company that pays $5 per hour would be let into the union? Nope, and that company would have some big barriers to work around finding plumbers.
Just saying..... everyone wants to accept commuting across the country for subpar wages but then wonders why they continually get beat over the head for the last $.
If the regionals hate ALPA so much, they should form a regional union, fine. But their flying is always tied to what mainline is willing to give away, unless they start to actually market thier own product.
Luv

 

[dojetdriver]

First to demand livable regional wages.....

I wouldn't say the first to "demand" livable regional wages. AWAC and ACA got them though normal CBA negotiations/demand before COMAIR's strike.

COMAIR just had to resort to different means to attain it.

Bear in mind, "livable regional wages" is a bit of an oxymoron. For a CA, not so much. But even the best pre 9/11 FO rates were a tad crappy overall.

 

[buscap]

Real nice, dancing on undug graves.

Their strike did change the industry mostly for the better. It was a bar raiser. The positive effects would've manifested themselves much better if it weren't for the post 911 industry downturn.

Many of the things the Comair pilots did post strike is what earned them the wrath of just about everyone who is now grave dancing, but I believe they have been rogered quite enough.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

No good deed left unpunished in this industry.

 

[CheapFlyer]

have published a minimum standard by which contracts would be judged. Those below this standard would not be allowed ALPA benefits, which I would have included the jumpseat.

I think you may be on to something here. By no means do I think a jumpseat "war" should be initiated, but if this rule was ALPA policy I think the industry might be a little different. Although, a flaw in this theory is who actually owns the jumpseat. The company paid for the jumpseat but the captain does have final discretion. Interesting idea.

-CF

 

[Dumbluck]

The only way to get past this is a national union. Alpa is is obsolete, I don't think it was ever relavent