DeadHead

Interested to hear what both NWA and DAL pilots think in terms of furlough predictions. Since both companies were hiring up to a few weeks ago and earlier talks discussed not having a need to furlough, i was curious if most people found it still to be likely. I know it is all speculation at this point, but figured I'd throw it out there anyway.

rvr350

Well, how about this? Why do you feel there has to be furloughs in this merger? The carriers still has aircrafts coming on property, and they are being responsible and disciplined by stopping newhire when things get rough. Now, if oil raises to 1000/barrel, then I wouldn't be so sure. Furlough sucks, and nobody wants to talk about it, but everybody should be prepared for it financially if it happens.

31wins

NW management responsible and disciplined?

Please...they could give a rats a$$ just like pretty much every airline (any company) management

JetFlyer06

Furlough at a new combined NWA/Delta is definitely a possibility, anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a dream world. I do however, agree that they are doing the right thing by not continuing to run classes and then potentially have to furlough brand new hires. There are a large number of senior NWA pilots sticking around past 60 to see if they can get any kind of equity payout if a merger would take place. I would speculate that once they see that's not the case or they get their payout that they would be gone (or medical out). You have to remember the Northwest brand is also at stake here and I think there are a good number of senior NWA guys who would never want to wear a Delta uniform.

Delta has new aircraft arriving which is a good thing, but parking NWA 9's could offset any gains in the pilot ranks in that department (at a merged carrier). NWA (for now) is increasing utilization of the existing 9 fleet so hopefully that again helps offset the parked aircraft some. In the end I hope for the best for both pilot groups and no furloughs. Let's try to get the best of both contracts into one which would in turn lead to better working conditions for all of us.

DAL4EVER

I remember hearing that our management wanted to keep a fair number of -9s flying. They are paid for and the mx expenses aren't to bad. Plus, it feels in the desperate gap for the 100 seater we need. Short term, even with oil this high, I could see them keeping them around. We are taking delivery of 22 aircraft this year. 6 more 777LR that need 4 man crews, I think 6 more 757ER that need 3 man crews and 10 737-700's. Between these aircraft I estimate another 400 pilots that are required. Even with the 5% reduction in domestic capacity, some of that was due to parking RJs, the other will be offset and even enhanced by the addition of international routes.

Furloughs are always a possibility, but post 9/11 they happened because the airlines were highly inefficient with their staffing. I think the average DAL pilot was flying somewhere around 45 hours a month back then. We had 10,000 pilots on payroll and only 20% of our flying was international. Now we average around 70 hours a month, 50% of our flying in intl, and we have over 7,000 pilots. NWA is in the same boat. We have dramatically improved our efficiency and as a result I predict any furloughs (keeping my fingers crossed) will be minimal. I don't say that lightly as I was previously furloughed here. I don't want the merger to happen, but if it does, I hope that we gain all of the expected synergies (whatever they may be) and continue our expansion.

iahflyr

Well, since I have been pretty dead on with my furlough 2008 predictions so far...

I don't think a combined Delta/Northwest will furlough anyone. I think the shear size of the carrier will enormously improve their pricing power, allowing the combined Delta/Northwest to raise fares instead of parking airplanes.

Honestly, I think Delta or Northwest has a much higher chance of furloughing IF they DO NOT merge. Having 6 legacy carriers in cut throat competition with oil at $112/barrel is a much scarier picture for furloughs.

R1830toIAE2500

31 Wins, love your avatar.

Denny McClain, 1968 31W - 6L, 1.96 ERA, 28 complete games. WOW!

No clue regarding potential furloughs. Too many unknowns at this point.

DeadHead

To an extent I do agree with you. I feel as though Delta, with of course Northwest Airline Management Integration, would have to run the newly-conjoined merged company. That being said, I'm sure a lot of investors, mangers, and stockholders at this point would like to leave Northwest on the way to the bank to cash their check. I feel that their is probably more pressure from the powers that be up at NWA than there are at DAL to make this deal happen.

I think its good that Delta management has been conservative about the merger, and if they truly were irresponsible and undisciplined we would probably have been merged by now. The Northwest Management, however might be to eager to make this deal happen regardless of the people who will have to make it work when everything is said and done. Needless to say this merger is probably one of the most fitting because I don't think I can think of any other merger at the majors level that wouldn't almost guarantee pilot furloughs. A DAL/NWA merger may cause pilot furloughs or it might not, but at least there is a possibility the company could move forward without leaving anyone behind.

That being said, if any NWA or DAL Pilots have any current pilot population numbers that would help.
Off of APC:
DAL Approx. 7,300
NWA Approx. 5,000

UCLAbruins

Right on.

People see the way airlines do business, they've been doing that for 50 yrs, why would they change their ways now???? If they need to furlough people to save a few bucks, they will.

JetPiedmont

My Dad took me to that World Series when I was 13 years old. We flew to DTW on Eastern Airlines and saw games 3,4 & 5 at Tiger Stadium. I was more of a Cardinals fan, but I was totaly captivated by the whole thing.

Democratic Senator George McGovern was there running for the 1968 Democratic Presidential nomination, and my Dad, the staunch Republican, actually took a picture of me shaking the senator's hand. Gentlemen were really gentlemen back then.

McClain went on to his personal troubles years after that, and McGovern lost to Nixon in 1972, but I always remembered those two through my being at those games.