Originally Posted by
slowplay
I'm missing your logic here. You acknowledge that total Delta flying has gone up, but you're concerned about allocation of 737 time? Yet you point out that staffing in that category has actually gone up?
Similar story in SEA. We've doubled the size of the pilot base there, and opened a new 7ER base.
The point is we aren't losing flying because of Alaska. We've gained flying. The history lookback is to remind folks that when any airline without a compelling competitive advantage has tried to dominate LAX, they've ultimately lost flying. I believe that history (and marketing's numbers) would show that without the Alaska codeshare there would be even fewer LAX 73N departures and fewer Delta pilot jobs overall.
Slow, I've been based in LA for the past 3 1/2 years and I've seen quite a bit of change, both personally, and in the larger DAL operation. The airline that "owns" LA right now is SWA. Their presence appears to be increasing. If we're going to take them on in ATL, we ought to be taking them on out here as well. They don't seem to have the same fear of banking on LA that we do. I find that odd, and a little troubling.
Delta metal flying, in my estimation, has not increased. I guarantee you that if you compare the pre-merger DAL and NWA frequencies in LA to what the joint operation is now, its close to a wash. We also closed a category out here in the last three years. We did add a handful of FOs and a couple of CAs to the 73 but since early 2008, the numbers have been relatively static. I've personally lost about 50% seniority since I got out here (2001 hire). What I HAVE seen is a lot of our 73 flying going to AK. And that is not only in LAX but SNA as well. Almost all of the LAX 73 Mexico service has matriculated to AK. In its place is a significant increase in TRANSCON redeyes.
I think what most LAX bubbas see, and believe, is that LAX can be had (similar to what Western had prior to the merger). We've squandered a lot of that Western presence. I'm not a marketing or route structure guy, just a line guy who sees a lot of untapped potential out here. If we're going to "own" NY and the Orient, we might as well "own" LA.