80ktsClamp

I agree... that is one good looking paint scheme.

iceman49

Agree with the optimized flights, however it depends on the station which is more advantageous-pax vs cargo, under belly cargo...is different from the type of aircraft that the article is talking about. Under belly is typically much more time sensative than main deck freighter. Talking two different animals.

buzzpat

I've been saying all along. One day we're all going to be one big airline (and probably owned by Air France). Looks like this is the first shot across that bow.

forgot to bid

From LM and DALPA:

Another important issue I would like to briefly address is last week’s corporate announcement of the new Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM group Transatlantic Joint Venture. Premerger Northwest pilots are familiar with the benefits they received in the 12-year joint venture they had with KLM which included a strategically important European continental hub and increased flying over the North Atlantic, flying which would not have been profitable or sustainable were it not for the joint venture. Delta has been participating in a joint venture with Air France since 2007. Delta pilots have also seen benefits, one crucial benefit being access to London’s Heathrow airport. This new single joint venture represents approximately 25 percent of the total transatlantic capacity with projected annual revenues of 12 billion dollars. This summer alone, the joint venture reportedly will result in more than 200 daily transatlantic flights.

Your union has been continually briefed by Delta management on the development and implementation of the joint venture from its inception. Also, from the earliest stages of the discussions, members of the MEC administration and committee structure have been meeting with our counterparts at VNV (the union representing the KLM pilots) and Air France ALPA to ensure that the joint venture is implemented in a manner consistent with the various collective bargaining agreements. We will continue to actively engage management and our VNV/Air France ALPA counterparts to ensure that no pilot group is unfairly advantaged by the joint venture and that each can share in its potential growth and benefits. The competitive advantage that this joint venture brings is nothing short of immense. A strategic goal of the Delta MEC is that the Delta pilots work for a financially viable carrier with a long-term future. I believe this joint venture is an aggressive step in that direction.

iceman49

The previous jv's did not address a cargo venture, it is to easy to say(fill in the blank) does not make money...get rid of it, also the aircraft are old...to expensive to replace. The same can be said of the pax operation...its losing money and we have mostly old aircraft.

The soothing words will be that it is more efficent and in the long run will make your job more secure. What will we say, when the 150-160 seat rjs come along...and the old 75/76 are to expensive to replace and the pax operation is losing money domestically or on international. Where and when will the line be drawn.

acl65pilot

So far this is no line.

Having wide body jobs outsourced may wake up the top half to this issue.

AerisArmis

Look on the bright side, wine with the crew meals!

80ktsClamp

Got a response from my rep tonight...

As per them, this press release was in error. Here is an excerpt:


"To begin with, the article is wrong. We are NOT doing a cargo JV with
Air France. I have the documents, cargo is not part of the deal. We
will JV the belly cargo of passenger aircraft, but freighters are
specifically excluded from the JV. Additionally:

-The AF/KL JV specifically calls for each side to be able to deploy
their freighter capacity on the North Atlantic routes, "provided that
such deployment shall not adversely affect the performance of belly-
cargo..." on such routes.
-In the first 3 years of the JV, Air France may not increase its
freighter capacity at all."

plus a few other points..



Take what you want to believe.. I'll put more faith into it when the press release comes out and moreso in their actions on this.

Yet another reason we need an active "scope report card."

acl65pilot

I got a cut and paste of the same e-mail 80.

Fly4hire

Looking for clarifications as well.

A Scope report card should not even be an issue - unwillingness to provide one raises the inevitable question of what don't you want us to see? Since the MEC says they are firm on Scope it should be a no brainer.

Ref any JV with alliance partners, Joint Venture implies mutual - so what's in it for us?

Before we get all warm and fuzzy with how this will benefit the company and therefore the pilot group, recall we have joint partners with the DCI's and many businesses have joint partners in China......