Originally Posted by alfaromeo

My guess is that the current committee called Seal Team 6 to rescue them from the bunker, now the MEC needs to bring them in, dead or alive.

Originally Posted by georgetg

Branson wants out and that also puts VAmerica in play...

This will get very ugly.

Cheers
George

Originally Posted by gloopy

What could we possibly want with VA? If its their awesome A319/320's, couldn't we just order them on our own? We need WAY more than what they have, and please don't mention their meaningless letters of intent of their fantasy start up fleet plan where every start up claims they will order 400 jets and fly to every single city or whatever.

We will be placing a massive order soon and everyone knows this. I'm sure a global powerhouse with an improving balance sheet can more than beat the terms of a tiny egomaniac driven start up thats always down to their last 20 million when it comes to terms of aircraft orders.

In the extremely unlikely event we decide to get their planes cause RB wants out, we can take those over through the leasing companies way outside the realm of any merger.

Originally Posted by georgetg

I have two high hopes for C2012:
That those who were hit hardest by the events of the last 10 years be made substantially whole.
That we grow as an airline by minimizing as much as feasible flying performed on behalf of Delta by non-Delta pilots.

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Where is Glen Hauenstein?

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

It's an average of 13.464 years for all of the international fleet and here is the break out of the individual fleet from the April 1, 2011 count:

747-400 . Fleet Total: 16 . Average Age 17.6
757-200 . Fleet Total: 33 . Average Age 14.1
767-300ER . Fleet Total: 58 . Average Age 15.3
767-400ER . Fleet Total: 21 . Average Age 10.3
777-200 . Fleet Total: 8 . Average Age 11.5
777-200LR . Fleet Total: 10 . Average Age 2.3
A330-200 . Fleet Total: 11 . Average Age 6.3
A330-300 . Fleet Total: 12 . Average Age 5.9
Total 169

Originally Posted by DAL4EVER

Finance is trying to hold the line with cost containment. The downside in their eyes to the international expansion the past few years is that it costs a lot more to maintain than the domestic operation. As a result, I would not be surprised to see a lot more international cuts this fall. As we abandon these cities we will leave UAL/CAL with exclusivity in these markets. They will get increased corporate accounts because of this.

Glen wants to dominate the world and if we don't let him, I would be worrying about his exit. The fight will be whether we follow the current US corporate mantra of controlling costs for short term gains or looking at long term success that is achieved through a higher cost structure in the near term.

Originally Posted by Pineapple Guy

Carl, I acknowledge - that was a bad use of words. What I meant to say was one was at the helm right up until the time DAL entered bankruptcy; then a different MEC Chairman was elected. How those two approached the job is a function of the circumstances each found themselves in.

The entire Delta pilot group had rose colored glasses on right up until the time bankruptcy was declared. The pension was heading down the toilet for several years while thousands left yet nothing was done. We kept getting contractually negotiated pay raises, while the corporation was losing billions. Disabled pilots have their disability payments for life, and even got their benefit plussed up when the pension terminated.

Bankruptcy was a bucket of ice water thrown in our faces, and in my opinion, the true wake up call. The new MEC and MEC Admin made the most of it, despite the horrible circumstances. Labor definitely loses, and loses big in every bankruptcy, but to somehow lay the blame on where we are at the feet of the union, is also to deny that 9/11 is the real reason.