bored

My guess is that it's as simple as this: DL doesn't need 49 saabs buzzing around the new network, as they continue to merge the NWA and DL route networks. We've already seen lots of routes that were served by our saabs now being served by CRJs. There has been a realignment of frequency and gage at airports that were served by both NWA and DL. 2011 is a loooong time from now. Heck, 2010 is even a long time from now. Lots can happen between now and then.

naley70b

Sorry to hear that guys, the wholly owned world can be a real bummer. The boys and girls over here at Piedmont know exactly how you feel.

Justdoinmyjob

No, you are not wrong. Not only is Delta maxed out on 76 seaters and not allowed to get anymore, but you can expect to see the mainline pilots start pushing to recover that flying to mainline. While the odds of that actually happening are very long, I would be very suprised if any more scope is given up. At this point, even the senior widebody captains are on board for scope tightening.

Lighteningspeed

I guess they must have been all XJ and Skywest.

No one is talking about getting more airplanes from the factory. We are talking about RESHUFFLING of jets from one DCI carrier to another. The total numbers are not being increased.

I do not believe DAL senior pilots are all for tightening the scope. That's repeating what some new DAL FO on the DAL thread said. DAL senior widebody CAs only concerned about getting their share for retirement and they are more concerned with losing widebody flying to KLM or Air France.

No one is advocating relaxing the scope any further. If anything, all DAL brand name flying should be flown by DAL pilots under the same seniority list.

All this cutbacks at Mesaba could also be a precursor to the merger rumor we've been hearing about. Merger between which ones is a question no one knows the answer to.

Avroman

RIIIIIIGGGGHHHTTT.... I'll believe that when I see it, and even then I'll have a hard time believing it. Protecting thier precious widebody flying from KLM or Air France sure. Saving DC-9 and A-319's from being replaced by CRJ900, I doubt half of them know the difference between them.

USN(Ret)

I live in a spoke city on the MEM Saab service. We have not been an EAS city, but qualify if all airline service is withdrawn. In July, Delta/Mesaba announced plans to withdraw service, advising the community to apply for EAS. Delta/Mesaba then submitted a bid for $1 mil. annual subsidy for the service. Unexpectantly, Skywest submitted a bid for $570K, for a United feed to ORD, using CRJ-200's. Both bids involve 2 roundtrips daily. It looks like Delta overpriced the bid, knowing that another carrier would underbid, therefore relieving Delta of continuing service.

At any rate, most locals will support RJ service to ORD, rather than Saabs to MEM.

I would think if DL was seriously interested in continuing small city service, they would replace the MEM Saabs, with RJ's to ATL.

ConnectionPilot

Why not RJs to MEM?

Squawk_5543

It's also very possible we may end up closing a Saab base all together with only 26 left in the system.

Avroman

Any guesses which one?

Bigflya

You are correct on many things. DAL is maxed out on 76 seaters and we will be emphasizing scope from here out. The membership was upset when we gave scope relief to fly some 70 seaters as 76 seaters. If DAL furloughs, then those seats have to be removed. Sorry to see anyones seat go away but better the feed than mainline ultimately. We at mainline believe that one or more DCI's will benefit from the USAir gate swap. All those cities in the NE can not handle mainline A/C loads. Comair is our high cost DCI as they have so many folks on the upper pay scales and their on-time performance has not been stellar to sway the least. Now they have been set-up for failure being hubbed at JFK. Come SOC in January things will get interesting for all of us.