ALPA Vs. Spirit
11-25-2008, 06:16 AM
#191
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: in line at the ticket counter
Posts: 129
And just for a correction Indigo limited Ltd. did not take delivery of those aircraft you see on the spreadsheet. There is an airline in India that flies New A320's called IndiGo.
IndiGo - Affordable Low Cost Airlines, Online Flight Ticket Bookings India, Discount Airfares, Domectic Airline Tickets India, Cheap Air Tickets India
11-25-2008, 05:54 PM
#192
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 501
Fresh out of BBB's mouth in a recent recurrent class.
-37 (yes, 37) new A320's on order. Deferrals negociated. Deliveries in 2011 only.
-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes.
-Company making money at this point and in good position, however credit crunch is working against company growth (i.e. aircraft financing and credit card processing companies withholding cash). Good cost structure. Yields pretty good.
-LGA and SJU possibly closing as crew bases. No flying reduction planned. Operational plan for 2009 in the works. Shift to FLL. Ops plan until February is already in place.
-Most growth south: South America and Carribean. Mexico flying from ONT or Texas would be ideal. No short term plans for that though.
- Codeshare with Southwest could be a possibility if deal would benefit Spirit. No talks underway however.
-No merger talks at all. No new investors willing to invest in US airlines.
-Optimistic about the future, as long as oil does not skyrocket and economy starts turning around.
-Optimistic about soon reaching an agreement with ALPA when it comes to contract negociations. Would like to see pay raises for pilots, but also increase in productivity. Would like to see ALPA give away some of the contract perks in exchange for better pay. No specifics, but said progress is being made. Pref bidding would be ideal according to him. Wants to reach a compromise to make both parties happy.
-All bills are paid up and current. Fell behind months ago on some non-priority obligations. Priority obligations are aircraft leasing, payroll, and others.
That's about it...
-37 (yes, 37) new A320's on order. Deferrals negociated. Deliveries in 2011 only.
-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes.
-Company making money at this point and in good position, however credit crunch is working against company growth (i.e. aircraft financing and credit card processing companies withholding cash). Good cost structure. Yields pretty good.
-LGA and SJU possibly closing as crew bases. No flying reduction planned. Operational plan for 2009 in the works. Shift to FLL. Ops plan until February is already in place.
-Most growth south: South America and Carribean. Mexico flying from ONT or Texas would be ideal. No short term plans for that though.
- Codeshare with Southwest could be a possibility if deal would benefit Spirit. No talks underway however.
-No merger talks at all. No new investors willing to invest in US airlines.
-Optimistic about the future, as long as oil does not skyrocket and economy starts turning around.
-Optimistic about soon reaching an agreement with ALPA when it comes to contract negociations. Would like to see pay raises for pilots, but also increase in productivity. Would like to see ALPA give away some of the contract perks in exchange for better pay. No specifics, but said progress is being made. Pref bidding would be ideal according to him. Wants to reach a compromise to make both parties happy.
-All bills are paid up and current. Fell behind months ago on some non-priority obligations. Priority obligations are aircraft leasing, payroll, and others.
That's about it...
Last edited by A320Flyer; 11-25-2008 at 06:13 PM. Reason: typo
11-26-2008, 03:46 AM
#194
Banned
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,857
Thanks "A320Flyer", just a question:
You said
"-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes."
Are the recalls based on next years second-hand A/C, 2011 new A/C, or just on the current fleet?
And thx again for the update. Us on furlough, really appreciate some news every once in awhile.
You said
"-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes."
Are the recalls based on next years second-hand A/C, 2011 new A/C, or just on the current fleet?
And thx again for the update. Us on furlough, really appreciate some news every once in awhile.
11-26-2008, 08:50 AM
#195
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 944
Its going to be difficult to find an answer to this question because I dont think there is one. Things are constantly changing and so there is no real answer to why pilots will be recalled. There is no way to predict how many will quit/retire in the next few months, no way to know if a leasing company will call BBB tomorrow and offer 5 A320's, no really good forecast for the US economy or the future price of crude oil. Just be glad that there IS talk of more recalls, dont worry so much about the WHY.
I will be in class next week, and will try to pry some more info out of the management visit to our class.
I will be in class next week, and will try to pry some more info out of the management visit to our class.
11-26-2008, 09:25 AM
#196
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 501
Thanks "A320Flyer", just a question:
You said
"-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes."
Are the recalls based on next years second-hand A/C, 2011 new A/C, or just on the current fleet?
And thx again for the update. Us on furlough, really appreciate some news every once in awhile.
You said
"-Looking for second-hand A319/A320's to grow a bit, then return them by 2011 in exchange for the new one's. Recalls would happen. Hard to find leasing companies willing to lease to US airlines though. They'd rather place planes in Asia. Our current fleet: 28 airplanes."
Are the recalls based on next years second-hand A/C, 2011 new A/C, or just on the current fleet?
And thx again for the update. Us on furlough, really appreciate some news every once in awhile.
You're welcome. Hope to see you guys back soon.
11-27-2008, 05:03 AM
#197
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 141
My pessimistic take on things:
In our new hire class, they said we would be getting new airplanes in 2008. Then it was 2009. Now it's 2011. I've heard it said here before, we've always been a 30 airplane airline and will always be a 30 airplane airline. BBB is full of sh**, always has been and always will (we're not furloughing... one day later I get a notice I'm getting furloughed). I don't see myself back for another year or 2 and I'm not even that far down the list. My guess is pilots will get sick of this cracker jack operation and leave in small pockets...I'm guessing attrition is the only way I'll be back in.
My optimistic take on things:
Except for 2 captains, everyone I've flown with here has been furloughed from Spirit. The longest I've heard lasted 9 months (maybe others have been furloughed longer)...Spirit always seems to call people back sooner than later. We got the Medellin slot and I know that management has been down in Columbia looking at other destinations. BBB is full of sh**, always has been always will...maybe people will get a random notice next week for A320 differences training for the A320s we get in January. Spirit is like a cockroach...it's a nasty piece of crap, but always survives. Like the airline or not, it seems to make money...it'll be around. More people may be called back before we know it...attrition may rise a good bit.
I go back and forth depending on my mood...either way...I have a lot to be thankful for...like not having doing a redeye to SAP or MGA tonight. Happy Thanksgiving.
In our new hire class, they said we would be getting new airplanes in 2008. Then it was 2009. Now it's 2011. I've heard it said here before, we've always been a 30 airplane airline and will always be a 30 airplane airline. BBB is full of sh**, always has been and always will (we're not furloughing... one day later I get a notice I'm getting furloughed). I don't see myself back for another year or 2 and I'm not even that far down the list. My guess is pilots will get sick of this cracker jack operation and leave in small pockets...I'm guessing attrition is the only way I'll be back in.
My optimistic take on things:
Except for 2 captains, everyone I've flown with here has been furloughed from Spirit. The longest I've heard lasted 9 months (maybe others have been furloughed longer)...Spirit always seems to call people back sooner than later. We got the Medellin slot and I know that management has been down in Columbia looking at other destinations. BBB is full of sh**, always has been always will...maybe people will get a random notice next week for A320 differences training for the A320s we get in January. Spirit is like a cockroach...it's a nasty piece of crap, but always survives. Like the airline or not, it seems to make money...it'll be around. More people may be called back before we know it...attrition may rise a good bit.
I go back and forth depending on my mood...either way...I have a lot to be thankful for...like not having doing a redeye to SAP or MGA tonight. Happy Thanksgiving.
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