Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
02-10-2010, 03:49 AM
Gets Weekends Off
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We need our own Senator. Buzz you interested?
02-10-2010, 04:00 AM
Happy to be here
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
How much money did we spend working on the slot swap deal and the JAL deal? I'll bet we've burned through a fair amount trying to get those deals done. I get the JAL deal, they made a business decision on what they feel is best to get their company back on track, I get that.
The slot swap deal however is just another example of how screwed up the U.S. aviation industry is due to the government trying to run it while saying it is deregulated. If we need to give up slots, then they should allow us to unload an equal amount of peak and non-peak slots via an auction process to the highest bidder. I think we should buy B6. We get a new terminal in NYC, a bunch of new 320's, a fleet of 190's, and when the DOT requires us to give up NYC slots to approve the deal, we give them to Spirit in return for some SA routes.
The slot swap deal however is just another example of how screwed up the U.S. aviation industry is due to the government trying to run it while saying it is deregulated. If we need to give up slots, then they should allow us to unload an equal amount of peak and non-peak slots via an auction process to the highest bidder. I think we should buy B6. We get a new terminal in NYC, a bunch of new 320's, a fleet of 190's, and when the DOT requires us to give up NYC slots to approve the deal, we give them to Spirit in return for some SA routes.
I think you guys are going in the right direction with Spirit. Might be better to swap than you think.
02-10-2010, 04:02 AM
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Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
I don't know anything more than anyone else, but I agree with you. The LGA/DCA slot thing isn't even final! The DOT is giving everyone 30 days to make comments, THEN they issue the final ruling. Washington is all about negotiation.
I think the JAL thing was an easy way to pick up some influence over there. I don't think we'll give up - we could make some sort of Far Asia hub at Guam if we lose NRT slots and end up with a few HND slots. We could use one of our Asian Skyteam partners (China Eastern or Korean Air) to set up some sort of hub in one of their cities. We could take delivery of B787 and just overfly NRT/HND to Asian cities and stick it to JAL/AA. We could make a hub in ANC or SEA and fly people to and from Asia through it.
These are just the ideas I've come up with today, while watching my 2 month old. Can you imagine what the people like Glen Hauestein (who doesn't have a 2 month old next to his desk) can come up with?
I think the JAL thing was an easy way to pick up some influence over there. I don't think we'll give up - we could make some sort of Far Asia hub at Guam if we lose NRT slots and end up with a few HND slots. We could use one of our Asian Skyteam partners (China Eastern or Korean Air) to set up some sort of hub in one of their cities. We could take delivery of B787 and just overfly NRT/HND to Asian cities and stick it to JAL/AA. We could make a hub in ANC or SEA and fly people to and from Asia through it.
These are just the ideas I've come up with today, while watching my 2 month old. Can you imagine what the people like Glen Hauestein (who doesn't have a 2 month old next to his desk) can come up with?
02-10-2010, 04:04 AM
Looking for a laugh
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02-10-2010, 04:07 AM
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Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
Looks like we (Delta) are getting spanked every which way but Sunday. Got played by the Japanese and now the LGA deal. I believe it was NuGuy many pages ago that warned to not count AMR out. I believe they also were very instrumental in the LGA conditions. I think RA and the boys just got schooled. AMR may have its issues (mx, labor etc) but they are ruthless. They can't stand being #2 and are finally doing something about it. Imho they have WAY more clout in DC then DAL. Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Makes not getting it even harder when you are told, "Yep, you are better, more athletic, better looking and will provide me with a better life, but I am going to stay with my ex that does nothing for me, just because it is safe."
We will have an aggressive response in the Pacific. It many not happen on the time table or in the attention span of a normal pilot, but it will happen, and it will be large. (BTW there are growth and retraction options. We will not stay the same. One option is to pack up and go home, but I doubt that will happen)
02-10-2010, 04:13 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,539
Oberstar is a congressman. As far as being in "our pocket" he's one of the guys that really helped tube the LGA deal...he's no friend of Delta or Labor. Our company isn't profitable, but Oberstar wants to "protect" the consumer from higher airfares. Gee, we're losing money and he wants to transfer good paying jobs from a unionized carrier to a non-union lower wage and benefit carrier....
and ensure that we don't make money in the NYC market.
The US government is picking winners and losers for its self-interest. They just took money out of your pocket and transferred it to CAL and JBLU. There's no rational way to justify Oberstar and LaHood's actions, especially in light of the Airtran slot swap with CAL in EWR. Concentration was a lot greater there.
and ensure that we don't make money in the NYC market. The US government is picking winners and losers for its self-interest. They just took money out of your pocket and transferred it to CAL and JBLU. There's no rational way to justify Oberstar and LaHood's actions, especially in light of the Airtran slot swap with CAL in EWR. Concentration was a lot greater there.
02-10-2010, 04:13 AM
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Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
It is a problem. The candle has been burning at both end for quite some time. They get breaks like the economic downturn that help raise the overall qualifications of pilots coming in to regionals, but in five years, there will just not be ppl available. (If they can fill the seats, I am not sticking my family on em) Most of this has been masked by quick upgrades where you will go from 16K a year to 50K in two years. PPL can deal with it. Problem is not the boom is over and ppl just cannot live with those wages.
Regionals are a way to pass of the price of doing business without having to compete. The new rules that are starting to filer out will do nothing. The ATA won, and with it we will see a new round of Ab initio candidates, as it will be the only way in to a regional without an ATP.
02-10-2010, 04:15 AM
Happy to be here
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
Oberstar is a congressman. As far as being in "our pocket" he's one of the guys that really helped tube the LGA deal...he's no friend of Delta or Labor. Our company isn't profitable, but Oberstar wants to "protect" the consumer from higher airfares. Gee, we're losing money and he wants to transfer good paying jobs from a unionized carrier to a non-union lower wage and benefit carrier.... and ensure that we don't make money in the NYC market.
The US government is picking winners and losers for its self-interest. They just took money out of your pocket and transferred it to CAL and JBLU. There's no rational way to justify Oberstar and LaHood's actions, especially in light of the Airtran slot swap with CAL in EWR. Concentration was a lot greater there.
and ensure that we don't make money in the NYC market. The US government is picking winners and losers for its self-interest. They just took money out of your pocket and transferred it to CAL and JBLU. There's no rational way to justify Oberstar and LaHood's actions, especially in light of the Airtran slot swap with CAL in EWR. Concentration was a lot greater there.
02-10-2010, 04:18 AM
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Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: A-320A
Posts: 18,563
Nothing good ever comes easy. We're now the biggest airline, and we've demonstrated a willingness both to challenge one of our toughest competitors on their turf, to break up their alliance. We've demonstrated an interested in trying truly innovative deals, and searched for new profitable routes in some of the ugliest places imagineable. The fight with CAL for New York is just starting, and we also face JB, a very connected airline. STAR is an incredible franchise, and we haven't seen them mutate into a true brute of a 1,600 lb gorilla yet.
If we're going to "win", it's going to take more than internet posts. Our airline is going to have to play ruthless defense, not just creative offense. Who's to say certain influential lobbyists, such as a former Transportation Secretary hired to help scuttle our pass at JAL, didn't also join JB at the DOT's doorstep? We ned to learn to screw them just the same.
This is a brutal game. We're going to have to tuck one behind the other for speed, and become much better. We have a good management team. They need to be great. We have a good union. We need to be great. We are good employees. We need to be great.
For now, I hope we trip up some of the other deals, and we take a page from JB's book. Let us polish up our connections, and let's not be outlobbied ever again.
RA and Bastian are good. But the occasional slap in the face may help them develop into great airline people. So far, each has had a history of being very clever and effective, but each has run from difficult situations, if memory serves. I want to see the intelligence, determination, and ruthless cunning of a Bob Crandall. I want to see fangs.
And I'm willing to support them, write the letters, and show up for hearings if they prove they have what it takes.
This never was going to be easy, no matter how optimistic we were. The world still isn't fair. And now we have a huge target on our back. That's because, for a change, we actually have a chance to rule this mo-fo. Now, there is a good reason to cheer up.
If we're going to "win", it's going to take more than internet posts. Our airline is going to have to play ruthless defense, not just creative offense. Who's to say certain influential lobbyists, such as a former Transportation Secretary hired to help scuttle our pass at JAL, didn't also join JB at the DOT's doorstep? We ned to learn to screw them just the same.
This is a brutal game. We're going to have to tuck one behind the other for speed, and become much better. We have a good management team. They need to be great. We have a good union. We need to be great. We are good employees. We need to be great.
For now, I hope we trip up some of the other deals, and we take a page from JB's book. Let us polish up our connections, and let's not be outlobbied ever again.
RA and Bastian are good. But the occasional slap in the face may help them develop into great airline people. So far, each has had a history of being very clever and effective, but each has run from difficult situations, if memory serves. I want to see the intelligence, determination, and ruthless cunning of a Bob Crandall. I want to see fangs.
And I'm willing to support them, write the letters, and show up for hearings if they prove they have what it takes.
This never was going to be easy, no matter how optimistic we were. The world still isn't fair. And now we have a huge target on our back. That's because, for a change, we actually have a chance to rule this mo-fo. Now, there is a good reason to cheer up.
Good post.
I agree. We need to fight ugly in NYC. Time to quit being the "Gentleman from the South."
As for JAL. Time to one up AMR, and I am compete faith that we have been working on this for quite some time.
02-10-2010, 04:42 AM
New Hire
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Position: Hi wing monoplane/Any
Posts: 9
For low to NO cost, the Japanese media has blasted the Delta brand all over the place. NWA "Red Tail" along with their travel agent army in Japan has been most effective. Now, the tail is gone and the branding is non descript. Think Pan AM in Paris back in the day. This folly was worth its wait in GOLD at $2000/ounce to super charge the Skyteam brand in Japan. We (post merger) command the third largest slot portfolio in NRT and are now better positioned for the HND slot subscription (1 or more of 4 dailies). NWA operated NRT to a fraction of its potential. And, do not forget the other SkyTeam member Korean. That relationship has always been dominated by DAL in the past. Things may shift. The real bet is on when and if and how China liberalizes their aviation market. When YUM brands gained entrance into the chinese market, they had to buy a LOAD of tile to build franchises in mainland. Think Aviation infrastructure and update. They may get Next Gen before the US! If the market opens look towards NRT overfly on premium market pairs.
destroyer or liberator?
JG
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