Vikz09

They sure seem confident in a pilot contract being done before the due date. Not sure how they expect only a 2% increase in employee costs and a new pilot contract. Sure sounds like they don't plan on reaching into the wallet. Perhaps they already have direction from ALPA and offsets are in the works.

Also confirmed that we will be down to 7 747's at the end of this year with only 6 flying.

Timbo

There you go. Another Cost Neutral contract. Productivity gains and cost savings by parking 747's will offset any cost increases, at least that's what they will tell Wall Street.

Have you noticed they always say "2%" in every earnings report? That's the magic number Wall Street wants to hear. Any more than that and they start to panic that our costs are growing out of control...

Big E 757

I agree with everything you said, Timbo. I just think making assumptions with only 25% or the necessary data points might be a little "presumptuous".

If we trade profit sharing for a 3% raise! I think there will be a riot. And more than a few guys might go out on medical disability with exploding head syndrome.

boog123

yeah, no kidding. There is such a history of airline stocks just falling thru the floor with pilot contracts…..

Vikz09

Your RIGHT! Every earnings call is a 2% increase. I sure as hell hope for the sake of ALPA as a airline union that they do not try and sell us another C2012. That will indeed set this pilot group off. I sure hope the Union reads these decreases in international flying and significantly strengthens our International JV and SCOPE language

Coronado

Is the first of the 10 new A330 IGW supposed to arrive next month? Is it still 4 deliveries in total this year? 4 A330 IGW replacing 6 744 and there is the drop in winter 2015-16 capacity mentioned in the earnings report.

Vikz09

On the chitchat forum, a poster mentioned that he had discussions with someone from the 4th floor and that we would be getting 5 of the new 330's this year. I suppose that just means 1 fewer in 2016. Nothing official, just 4th floor rumors.

sailingfun

Keep in mind that as the mainline expands they are hiring in very low cost employees in every division. No retirements and low wages for many years. A growing airline can support increases because of the net employee costs relative to revenue drop with new hires. SWA lived off that concept for 25 years. Once the magic chain was broken and they stopped growing employee costs soared. In addition headcount is growing slower relative to revenue as many departments increase productivity.
Expect the company opener to focus heavily on that concept with the pilot group also. Don't buy into forum hysteria that is sure to come but keep a sharp eye on jobs. Money is not everything. In the past DALPA's estimates of jobs lost or gained have proven to be very accurate. There will be contractual changes that effect jobs but there is no reason to have a net job loss when everything is tallied in this contract. We gave enough in jobs in the past.

Going2Baja

Haven't seen in print the so-called additional 11 717's either....anyone?

Baja.

sailingfun

I don't know about 5 this year but one delivery was moved from the fall to June.