nene

All the majors run a "bio fuel" flight once a triennial, and put out many press releases, photos, and fanfare about how green they are the are the way of the future, then it's biz as usual for another three years.

DumboDrop

I was joking. Maybe only TPA.

dracir1

Moves and countermoves.

I do think it was actually quite a thing for UAL to announce bases in LAS and MCO. Many of the FOs I talk to say they came to F9 because we called first and they don't have to commute. However, they do have their apps out and will interview w/ a major if in the same city. And that's just UAL. What if Delta announced Denver? Or a Fl base? Alaska to LAS? What if SWA offered early out to the top of their list to decrease the upgrade time by a couple of years? This is all just pure speculation - no research done whatsoever - but who knew UAL was looking at MCO...

Seems like our counter of choice (which is cheaper than paying people) is to just open more bases (ala the Allegiant model). Barry talked about opening a couple bases per year and 2023 will see DFW and possibly CLE or CVG. I wonder if we'll ever have a SJU base? Or back to ORD/MDW?

Moves and countermoves.

spooldup

Idk anyone who would change commuting for X years at UAL to hold MCO or LAS when you can get them out of the gate here at F9. Id still prefer F9 if I lived there. Not much of a counter unless their base grows exponentially and adds more than just 73s.

dracir1

I do. I know of a few UAL pilots in living in Vegas (lots of ex-mil) that won't have to commute now. I also know some still in the AF that reached out to me about F9 that are now considering UAL as well.

UAL wouldn't be opening a base if it wasn't beneficial to them (some companies think about their employees - the CEO is ex AF).

Broing

Bases will have some draw for sure but… imagine when majors start matching longevity like the regionals do. THAT will shake up the industry when you’re no longer starting at the bottom of the pay scale. I can see it happening in the next 2-3 years, and once one major does it the rest will have no choice but to follow.

Stayontarget

Either that or the regional just gets absorbed into the legacy altogether.

dracir1

Talked to a UAL friend of mine - they had a town hall about the base openings. Mgt is trying to solve its NB CA issue - LAS and MCO flying will be 1st leg to a HUB then normal HUB flying. Purpose is essentially establishing a paid commute for staff who won’t upgrade to SFO/EWR CA.

Thoughts are that both bases will go fairly senior once the dust settles which will mean jr CAs in EWR/SFO will move up to line holders. It’s a win-win for them. Side benefit of dipping into ULCC/JB manning.