flynwmn

Usairways and Delta want to trade slots in LGA and DCA. i hope it Doesn't happen.

jayray2

There was a Compass memo floating around talking about a LGA base.

Tinpusher007

I think you and I are about the only ones who would want to be based in NY. But I don't think there is a base in the cards for us. I've heard from a friend at Compass that they are considering either LGA or ORD as a new base. (Note the ORD base would NOT be for any buildup of flying there, just a "satelite" base I guess.) The latest with the DL/US deal is that they agreed to divest some slots to Airtran, Spirit, Jetblue and WestJet in order to placate the DoJ. WN is of course screaming bloody murder because they weren't invited to play. But the DoJ has not ruled yet. I do suspect that we will probably get some increased LGA flying if the deal goes through, but Im not holding my breath for a base.

jeeps

Sorry Tin, I was being sarcastic, I don't really want to have a base there...at all.

Sorry, but thanks for the rest of the info...

Avroman

Yea I think the vote for a new base between NYC and Salt Lake would be 99-1 for SLC.

Lighteningspeed

I agree the overwhelming majority would vote for SLC. At any case, NYC is out of the question for Mesaba. More flying is allocated out of SLC than La Guardia or KFK combined. Most people I talk to all say SLC is a distinct possibility for Mesaba and La Guardia or ORD will go to Compass.

If Mesaba gets SLC as a crew base, will it go senior or junior, Avroman?

xj200capt

It could go senior. I know that there are a lot of people that live or want to live out west.

SmoothLanderJ

I agree...Know a bunch of peeps that would love SLC. Then Skywest will REALLY hate us then. LOL!

jayray2

The management said there were no plans for a new base (not that I really believe what those bozos say). A new base seems just as likely as Mesaba getting sold and all of us losing our jobs. Who did you hear this from and what kind of time line are they talking? I'm sure there is a huge shake up in store for all us sometime in the future, hopefully we get some good news out of it but I am not counting on it.

Lighteningspeed

Management is reluctant to commit to a permenent base until something concrete is guaranteed from DAL due to extra cost but they will wait until the last possible moment to open up a base. Basically they have to be dragged screaming and kicking.

Having said that, SLC as a crew base is a possibility. Now as far who is saying that is confidential. Just watch the blocked hours flying in and out of SLC for the rest of the year and look for a lot of DHs to and from SLC. If they increase and are sustained for the next 6 months or longer, that will be a good sign that SLC will become a Mesaba base at the end of 2010 or sometime in 2011.

You are right about a big shakeup at the DCI world including Mesaba. Especially now with the new Duty and Rest requirement rule and new hiring std for Part 121 legislation on the horizon.

As far as Mesaba being sold, well that is always a possibility but very unlikely. RA wants to keep most of the regional flying in house and that only leaves Mesaba, Compass and Comair. Besides who would want to buy Mesaba or Comair which is overloaded with very senior pilots. Mesaba is not that cheap to operate unlike Compass.

All I can say is in this business, anything can hapen and a little bit of luck can go along way. Meanwhile put yourself in a position to take advantage of the little luck when it comes around. Meanwhile, Mesaba is not a bad place to be until we are ready to move on. Mesaba has decent work rules which very closely follows NWA former work rules. Granted, few needs to be tweaked further and the pay rate needs to come up for FOs.