Akamai

A few iterations of National as well, and even a People Express 2 I seem to recall. 🤦‍♂️

The Skybus uniforms were hilarious, khakis and green park ranger polos. 😂

I forgot about North American, I aways liked the livery on their 75’s.

All Bizniz

Don't forget, Virgin America 😐

fostro

Yes, I was canceled on Voggers. That my friend should scare you, but you are the sheep. The MEC regulates Voggers which is why we started another forum page. I truly hope you are in the top tier because this MEC and negotiating group is about to sell your future for their gain.

If you don't fit in, you are probably doing the right thing!

In Unity...

Akamai

Virgin had cool space commander-esque uniforms too!

How about Eos? There was another all FC airline about the same time as Eos but can’t recall the name. Neither one lasted more than a few years.

ReluctantEskimo

MAXJet. filler

Akamai

Yes! Thank you.

Amazingly, all FC French carrier La Compagnie has held on and finally made small kine profit last year.

WindWalker999

Would be pretty hard pressed to find a single person that believes that particular delusion. Bottom line though, as your list of defunct airlines in the post-9/11 world illustrates, the only thing we can know is that we know nothing. CEOs are all spin doctors beholden only to shareholder interests, and therefore their own. We have absolutely no idea what the eventual result will be, or even if the merger / buyout / "combination" will be successful. Regardless of anything the unions say or we say, at the end of the day the planes that cost the least and make the most money, will go to the places that generate the most profit. We will go with them. Where that will be, and WHEN that will be, is anybody's guess. The only thing we know is that we have ZERO control over it.

We can bleat and whinny about it all day and waste a ton of valuable alcohol drinking time typing posts like this on a public web form, and it has NO effect at all on the outcome. Despite best efforts to the opposite, there is no point in getting worked up about anything until it is all done and it is time to actually negotiate a JCBA. And I certainly hope we will have built some actual beer-equity Unity (noy "unity") by then, because that contract is the ONLY thing we will have any input into at all... Planes, bases, even (let's get real now) the inevitable arbitrated SLI are completely out of our influence. Our respective unions, whether you love them or hate them, will double down on the best positions for our respective groups ("moon-shots" like 5 year base fences around HNL, PDX, and ANC, 2-5 year fences around HA widebody flying on existing airframes, whatever it may be). It will INEVITABLY go to arbitration. And even then, if the company subsequently decides to move, change, or eliminate any of that flying, they can and will and those become fences around empty land. We have NO control. So there is very limited personal benefit to getting too worked up about any of it. We will have to roll with it as it comes either way, whether we like the result or not.

Also, while discussing airlines that are no longer with us, let's not forget Island Air. A sobering example of how a management team that does not care can use the "shrink to profitability" model destroy a company, even a good one that has been around for 35+ years.

trip

Airline history-
Westair, co founded by M. Gallahger (Went on to found Allegiant) became United Express (mistake #1) operating on the Westcoast, got bought out by Mesa (mistake #2). Mesa took the profits/proceeds and built up there own operation leaving Westair to falter, after losing the United contract was then shuttered by Mesa, employees and pilots terminated.

nene

History has shown that the best way to make a small fortune in the airlines is by starting out with a large fortune. It's absolutely astounding over time how many think they can buck the trend.

Though, for many airline entrepenuers it's get in/get out while the gettin's good, leaving the employees and shareholders holding the bag when the bills of decisions past come due.

rickair7777

The modern startup business model...

Take advantage of (relatively) low startup labor costs, and gate/slot allocations reserved for new market entrants, then sell to the highest bidder, who needs gates/slots/routes/planes/pilots. I doubt anyone seriously expects to someday grow to big four (or big six) status.

Essentially a means of harvesting gates/slots which are fenced off from the established players.