FXLAX

He specifically said “bid list.” So if there is a new hire on June 1st, they won’t show up on their bid list until September, at the earliest. I wouldn’t be surprised if that pool dries fast with all other airlines continuing to hire through those five months. They’re going to email these poolies and find out many have already moved on.

Topgum

Right. Thank you. Yes, I’m talking bid list. It doesn’t matter how much fresh meat is in the pool now. No new hires until after May is June at the earliest. That puts names on the bid list around September in a perfect IT platform. Seems like a rather stagnant year ahead for the Jr. bidders.

majorpilot

There are poolies, who have all been told no new classes until after FY ends May31. It’s terrible for those who had given notice to their previous employer or for whom Purple was their first choice but they have to go their backup as a Plan B. Right now someone starting now will be halfway through probation by next Basic Indoc class.

I hope everyone gets what they want. This has been a dream airline for so many for so long, these hiccups are hopefully very short term.

opt0712

You don't work here at Purple and that is incorrect. I have 2 buddies in the pool, one of which I've sponsored. The email stated no newhire classes until May.

majorpilot

“No planned new-hire classes for the remainder of FY23 (end of May 2023).“

Hope your sponsorees are hanging in there.

opt0712

He is. And I'm showing two BI classes so far starting IN May.

PurpleToolBox

First I apologize for the multi quotes.

You're missing the point. Yes, FedEx leads along with UPS in some areas of airline contracts. Passenger contracts are making huge gains on FedEx. Where FedEx's contract lags, quality of lift issues, it lags by *A LOT*. They will get worse because of the FedEx pilots and MEC wanted focused negotiations.

FedEx has very few day only flying. The PM sorts go down around 2PM and the flights depart over the next three hours. So the flight may start in the afternoon but land at night. The current MEM 767 bidpack only has 40 lines that don't have flying between 9pm and 7am. These trips usually have early morning report times (5-7am) for the return leg back to hub which result in short layovers.

When has FedEx put the current poolies in front of those who entered the pool when hiring started back up? Not since I've been here. Many poolies who were in the pool during a down turn were never called again.

You are assuming hiring will start after FY23. That is not what the VP of Flight Operations said in his letter. He said FedEx would reevaluate the need to hire come end of FY23. The average bid line guarantees on every airplane except the 767 and 777 are at or below the minimum 68 credit hours with many lines being bought up to the 68 minimum. We are very close to entering 4.A.2.b. Second, we need a System Bid to reduce pilots on the MD and Airbus and move them to the 767 and 777. IMO, this must happen before FedEx hires bar any pandemics or pilot exodus.
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Every recent new hire, those in the pool and those still considering FedEx should read schloppy's comment. He couldn't be more correct.

FedEx and UPS became the place to be because the passenger airlines fell into bankruptcy in 2000. They've been fighting their way back ever since. And during a pandemic with a republican president, the airlines were paid money not to furlough. No way will Congress protect FedEx or UPS pilots. The president and congress will not let them strike. Yes FedEx hasn't furloughed since its first years of operations, that doesn't mean it can't happen again. There's much more uncertainty now.

Amazon. They just announced third party retailers can use their warehouses for storage and their shipping network for delivery to help offset their costs. This will further reduce margins for FedEx Express which does not operate a retail website or cloud services. FedEx's founder STILL thinks they're not a threat. What do you think millennials and Zs? Survey after survey, the newer generations rank FedEx last in logistics, behind Amazon, UPS, and USPS. That's a red flag.
The Postal Contract. The USPS contract expires in September 2024. It is FedEx Express's biggest customer. Amazon will bid for it this time. I imagine a time where Amazon tries to purchase or bring the USPS in house/privatize.
The FedEx Pilot Contract. We already know that FedEx management doesn't want to pay negotiated UPS pay rates. Delta's AIP beat UPS pay rates. I don't see FedEx getting a contract or one that is ratified anytime soon.
UPS. UPS operates one seamless network and ANY freight that can be moved cheaply by truck, does. UPS's CEO focused the company on a Better Not Bigger strategy and they are winning. Their cost structure beats FedEx's even with a heavily unionized work force.
FedEx's founder is slowing stepping aside. He had a profound love for airplanes and the pilots. That is not the case for new management. Their number one priority is to please stock holders and Wallstreet. Smith's son (the current CEO of Express) is not a Tommy Boy or a champion of labor.
Online retail is moving to a standard 2-day shipping model. Many retailers don't even offer an overnight delivery option anymore.
Network 3.0. When the new SkyCourier 408s and ATR 72-600Fs come to property, there's a lot of discussion how they will affect the network. They now can carry cans which fit on other aircraft, no need to sort freight at outstations. You deploy heavies to strategic locations and the feeders fly it to local, smaller, cheaper airports. And management has said numerous times this year, they plan to move as much freight as they can with third party shippers (passenger belly freight and contractors). Why? Because the FedEx Pilot's Contract allows it. There's a reason why Atlas signed a 5-year deal to domicile pilots in Memphis for their 747s. They are taking away FedEx pilots' jobs.

And last, I forget ... reduced pilot long haul operations, single pilot operations and or drones. They coming. And they will first try it with cargo before passengers are put at risk.

FedEx Express is overmanned and it is going to be a long couple of years for the juniors at the bottom. FedEx is NOT the place to be junior.

Is the sky falling? No yet. But it sure as he!! doesn't look good either.

majorpilot

I’m happy for you. That’s different than what’s been published to poolies, though (as shown above, but you’ve not shared your source).

Perhaps you can use your insider influence to have whatever is the correct information published so people planning their careers can adjust accordingly.

Jma313

Being junior isn’t fun but it’s a part of the job unfortunately. Maybe apply back to AA?? Complaining to a bunch of random people on the internet seems dumb.

majorpilot

The language you cite is crystal clear, and how I read it too. Yet we have someone claiming insider knowledge that two BI classes are actually set already for May 2023. Tough for those of us not claiming insider knowledge to know what is accurate. That’s APC I guess…

Likewise, the existing v future CJO holder comment is disturbing to anyone holding a CJO, who was told that their CJO remained valid for 12 months. Are you saying the company’s practice is to just restart hiring without regard for existing CJO holders? Wow…