avi8tor220

Any of you Delta guys care to guess why a couple Delta executives are now being sent to Pinnacle to run it? I know we are probably reading too much into it. They are probably there to slowly shut pinnacle down. But couldn't they just easily shut Pinnacle down with their current management in place? Is this how Comair was shut down? Just trying to get some opinions.

Timbo

Um...maybe they needed someone to babysit the kid, and keep close watch on their 'investment'?

80ktsClamp

I'm about to go click on it. I bet a dollar the word "overstaffed" appears at least 5 times!

Timbo

It actually mentions Lumberg by name, it said he won't be able to hold the 717, but his brother will...

johnso29

Ohhhhh, I think your guess might barely fall short. Unless you count the Q & A, which is basically repeat info.

johnso29

I really don't see these guys being brought in to be wind down Pinnacle. IMO, Delta has now created a solid way to drive down their DCI costs. By maxing 9E CAs @ 12 years of longevity & 9E FOs @ 4 years of longevity they will create lower costs. If they bring in Delta guys to do upper management jobs, they can reduce overhead. Eliminating the 50 seat fleet and going to at least 81 CRJ900 aircraft with dual class config(3 if you include Economy Comfort as a class) also reduces costs.

All these things IMO will drive 9E to being the cheapest DCI operator. In 2015, Delta has the contractual right to require Skywest Inc to reset their rates to the point that Skywest & ExpressJet are the 2nd cheapest DCI operator. If Skywest doesn't comply, their flying can be terminated. Delta has created a whipsaw machine. I personally think 9E isn't going anywhere.

tsquare

MEM did not support the NW hub there like they should have. For years they have been courting low cost operations because they felt that NW might have been gouging them. They might well have been operating high prices there, but that is the price of the freight if you want to be an O&D market and not a backwater destination. DAL isn't gonna keep flights there just beacuse of the historical relationship that NW had, and if we don't make money we will probably leave. It is a shame in a way because they just spent a ton of coin on that big parking garage and who knows what they are doing there with that ramp. So ultimately they will get their wish and they will have a bunch of "low cost" cats and dogs in there. Search MEM-MCO fares and let me know what carrier comes up to the top of the list though... Congratulations MEM.

PS. My mom lives there so I have been watching this for years.....

buzzpat

....sounds a lot like CVG. You want lower fares, you got 'em.

TenYearsGone

What is up with the food vendors in Atlanta Airport? Small portions and no Delta discount?

TEN

GunshipGuy

Never really considered bidding to LA, but with Kai out there taking care of bad dudes, maybe it's time.