Comair updates?
07-04-2010, 10:43 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
It was straight from our MEC chairs mouth during our conference call post purchase. Our MEC was in Negotiations with Skywest on Wednesday when they were informed that the same bid that was put in for Skywest and shot down was the same one Delta presented to Pinnacle, and followed through on. From talking to People it sounded like if Mesaba would have gone to Skywest, they would have controlled more than 50% of the flying for DAL, through a merger with ASA. Pinnacle still will operate over 200 A/C for Delta now, so I don't see how that's any better!
07-04-2010, 10:49 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2008
Position: CRJ FO
Posts: 229
07-04-2010, 11:01 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2007
Position: "if it's got wings, I can crash it".
Posts: 886
It is a bit elaborate. They do pack those 3 sims very tightly. If you're not up to par and need to do it more than twice, the whole event gets out of whack. In my case, I need to practice more V1 cuts and S/E go around procedures. It is a bit stressing going from laying around on the couch for hours, to having to force the mind to play catch-up after 20 months of innactivity.
07-04-2010, 11:27 AM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 148
It was straight from our MEC chairs mouth during our conference call post purchase. Our MEC was in Negotiations with Skywest on Wednesday when they were informed that the same bid that was put in for Skywest and shot down was the same one Delta presented to Pinnacle, and followed through on. From talking to People it sounded like if Mesaba would have gone to Skywest, they would have controlled more than 50% of the flying for DAL, through a merger with ASA. Pinnacle still will operate over 200 A/C for Delta now, so I don't see how that's any better!
07-04-2010, 02:04 PM
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 593
Pinnacle Considered buying Comair
ERLANGER – Delta Air Lines announced the sale of two of its regional subsidiaries Thursday, and company officials acknowledged that local regional carrier Comair was part of the initial negotiations.
Delta spokeswoman Kristin Baur said that Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines, which is buying Mesaba Airlines from Delta, considered buying Erlanger-based Comair.
“However, no offers were made by these interested parties to purchase Comair,” Baur said. “We continue to explore alternatives, but we can’t comment further on the potential sale of individual assets.”
Mesaba, Compass and Memphis-based Pinnacle had served as regional feeders for Northwest Airlines, which merged with Atlanta-based Delta in 2008. That process is almost complete, and the airlines involved still continue to fly for Delta. Trans States Holdings Inc. of Bridgetown, Mo., is buying Compass.
Delta operates a hub locally at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the home base for Comair. Compass and Mesaba are both based in Minneapolis and will continue to feed Delta’s system under a new deal that extends until 2020.
The sale was for $82.5 million total for the two carriers ($62 million for Mesaba and $20.5 million for Compass). The amount is markedly less than what Delta got for its last sale – Atlantic Southeast Airlines to SkyWest for $425 million in 2005 shortly before Delta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Delta bought Comair for $2 billion in early 2000, but that deal included Comair’s planes. Delta now owns the majority of all its regional jets or maintains the right to the leases, even at contracted carriers such as ASA and SkyWest.
Baur said the deal was made to continue to “streamline our Delta Connection regional network and improve our cost structure.” The airline has publicly said it is trying to lower the number of airlines flying regionally to between 4-5.
Comair has been rumored to be on the sales block for years, especially after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and then again leading into and during Delta’s bankruptcy reorganization.
Delta’s Baur said that Thursday’s sale did not impact Comair’s current flying contracts with Delta. In addition, the move of a crew base from New York to Detroit is still going on as scheduled, according to an internal memo released to Comair employees Thursday morning from airline president John Bendoraitis.
“Today’s news, which leaves Comair as Delta’s only remaining wholly owned regional airline subsidiary, will likely lead to questions about Delta’s plans for Comair going forward,” Bendoraitis wrote. “Most importantly, today’s announcement does not impact Comair’s flight schedule, operation or focus.”
ERLANGER – Delta Air Lines announced the sale of two of its regional subsidiaries Thursday, and company officials acknowledged that local regional carrier Comair was part of the initial negotiations.
Delta spokeswoman Kristin Baur said that Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines, which is buying Mesaba Airlines from Delta, considered buying Erlanger-based Comair.
“However, no offers were made by these interested parties to purchase Comair,” Baur said. “We continue to explore alternatives, but we can’t comment further on the potential sale of individual assets.”
Mesaba, Compass and Memphis-based Pinnacle had served as regional feeders for Northwest Airlines, which merged with Atlanta-based Delta in 2008. That process is almost complete, and the airlines involved still continue to fly for Delta. Trans States Holdings Inc. of Bridgetown, Mo., is buying Compass.
Delta operates a hub locally at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the home base for Comair. Compass and Mesaba are both based in Minneapolis and will continue to feed Delta’s system under a new deal that extends until 2020.
The sale was for $82.5 million total for the two carriers ($62 million for Mesaba and $20.5 million for Compass). The amount is markedly less than what Delta got for its last sale – Atlantic Southeast Airlines to SkyWest for $425 million in 2005 shortly before Delta filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Delta bought Comair for $2 billion in early 2000, but that deal included Comair’s planes. Delta now owns the majority of all its regional jets or maintains the right to the leases, even at contracted carriers such as ASA and SkyWest.
Baur said the deal was made to continue to “streamline our Delta Connection regional network and improve our cost structure.” The airline has publicly said it is trying to lower the number of airlines flying regionally to between 4-5.
Comair has been rumored to be on the sales block for years, especially after the Sept. 11 terror attacks and then again leading into and during Delta’s bankruptcy reorganization.
Delta’s Baur said that Thursday’s sale did not impact Comair’s current flying contracts with Delta. In addition, the move of a crew base from New York to Detroit is still going on as scheduled, according to an internal memo released to Comair employees Thursday morning from airline president John Bendoraitis.
“Today’s news, which leaves Comair as Delta’s only remaining wholly owned regional airline subsidiary, will likely lead to questions about Delta’s plans for Comair going forward,” Bendoraitis wrote. “Most importantly, today’s announcement does not impact Comair’s flight schedule, operation or focus.”
07-05-2010, 05:55 AM
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Posts: 40
Got no dog in this hunt other than I used to commute up to JFK all the time on you guys. (from CVG) and I have a lot of friends working over in the admin area.
From what I have heard, Delta has been trying to sell Comair for a long time and can absolutely find no buyers. Frankly the cost structure is too high and the 'employee problem' is a big negative. Operationally, the flight ops side has a very high sick out ratio. Add in the 'strike' history and you have got yourself something nobody wants to buy. (given the other options out there).
Delta keeps a very close eye on what is going on in CVG with that pilot and flight attendant group. They know the morale problems and rather than staff the airline properly, they would rather cut bait and go with a contract carrier for the regional lift needs. I feel for you guys, I really do. I don't see Comair in the picture in the next 18 months.... maybe sooner.
Being bought by a Trans States or other type airline is another kiss of death. They will just whipsaw you all against each other until there the job is not worth working for (if it is right now). Long term, if I were a young guy, I would give the majors a few more years... and even then, the grass is not that green over there... move on to a real life and job.
After 30 years in the biz, I am glad to be out.
Just my 2 cents.
From what I have heard, Delta has been trying to sell Comair for a long time and can absolutely find no buyers. Frankly the cost structure is too high and the 'employee problem' is a big negative. Operationally, the flight ops side has a very high sick out ratio. Add in the 'strike' history and you have got yourself something nobody wants to buy. (given the other options out there).
Delta keeps a very close eye on what is going on in CVG with that pilot and flight attendant group. They know the morale problems and rather than staff the airline properly, they would rather cut bait and go with a contract carrier for the regional lift needs. I feel for you guys, I really do. I don't see Comair in the picture in the next 18 months.... maybe sooner.
Being bought by a Trans States or other type airline is another kiss of death. They will just whipsaw you all against each other until there the job is not worth working for (if it is right now). Long term, if I were a young guy, I would give the majors a few more years... and even then, the grass is not that green over there... move on to a real life and job.
After 30 years in the biz, I am glad to be out.
Just my 2 cents.
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