flydiamond

We have **extremely** weak displacement (see posts about "vacancy reductions") and moving benefits language so those two items are certainly in need of significant improvement. Delta is currently giving positive space to/from work, and Avelo is giving stipends to pilots for commuting expenses so we are behind there too. Honestly, I do not see how the small base model is sustainable forever...are we going to have 50 bases when we have 270 airplanes? That should give you some pause too, because if they shift to overnights and find out its more productive and makes more money, you can bet they will close some underperforming bases.

hyde42

For real. I want to know what base I can go to and drop trips down to 40 hours...hell...I'll take any drops. Top 20% in my base and they tell me what days I'll work with no ability to drop. Function of poor scheduling software, poor work rules, and an airline that is trying to grow while losing as many as they can hire. Tough being senior here...Can't imagine being a new hire

Jim Rockford

Not even January.

TangoIndiaMike1

For an airline that has a lot of bases and how often Regionals close down bases I wonder how many will close during the next recession.

V2cut

Not just regionals. Within the last MONTH Frontier announced they’re closing their pilot base in ORD and Ryan Air announce they’re closing their base in Frankfort due to price increases.

G4poor

It’s correct. Explain why you think it might not be correct.

414to412

The company has been good, especially in the last 5 years of opening and keeping open bases. Even previously closed ones have come back (GRR, VPS). None closed during COVID, just ones that was supposed to open didnt (JQF). When we’re hiring, we run bids almost monthly and new hires get their bases of choice within 2-3 months. Additionally, while it may be 10 years off, we will start having our own retirements pickup. Right now, it’s mostly attrition. But the retirement/attrition combo is getting new hires up the list fairly quickly.

Also, consider how when new bases open some people actually do want to live and go there - not 100%, but some bases (AUS, BNA, ABE, FNT) have people from those regions who move. Adding 25 more bases will have a positive effect on those wanting to stay put, but it may not be an even effect across all bases.

They try to leverage us with this “vacancy reduction” and use the fear of overnights to get concessions every so often but it’s been an empty threat, and for many, productive 2-3 day trips would be desired.

We could have a VBD/TDY contractual ratio, say must have 2 VBDs for any TDY bid offered.

We can toughen our Vacancy/displacement rules so they can’t try that again.

We are still trying to figure out a proper bidding system. Lord knows when we will have a CBI.

Possibly increase the language on the 6 days non-isolated-day-off clause a month to include 7-8 days off and maybe have them as one block or a block of 4 each.

Those are all I can think of, I’m sure the negotiations team or actual commuters know more than me. I sit senior in my base, so it’s not really in my realm.

KC135

2022 - 6 2023 - 5 2024 - 14 2025 - 13 2026 - 10 2027 - 15 2028 - 16 2029 - 12 2030 - 9 2031 - 21 2032 - 17 2033 - 33 2034 - 26 2035 - 31

Yeah those retirement numbers really get wild after 2031.

414to412

33/1000 = 3.3%
Delta, this year:
438 /13000 = 3.3%

It’s the % that matters not the number…

KC135

We have over 1100 pilots now, not 1k. Do you really think we will only have 1k pilots in 10 years? We'd have to park a lot of planes with the current fleet plan if that was true.