Originally Posted by
johnso29
Incorrect. You can increase the pilot block hours/utilization of the airplanes and that requires more pilots. You don't necessarily need more airplanes to hire pilots.
Johnso, I agree. we
could fly our jets more, thus requiring more pilots.
Unfortunately we are currently reducing capacity somewhere around 4% YOY.
Alaska otoh is
adding jets,
growing the fleet nearly 20% in the next 4 years, increasing capacity 8% YOY. That growth includes parked 737-400s.
At Delta we have been adding MD90, but we've been parking DC-9s. The MD90 can carry a heck of a lot more pax then even the biggest 9. With reduced capacity that means fewer pilots required, pilot neutral for modest capacity growth...
As announced, our big 737-900 order is also net zero for the fleet count.
Some say, we might not park all of the 757, or that the mythical 717 will be added to the fleet. All we know is that those are rumors and the fact the Delta carrier adding jets and pilots is called the Eskimo.
Cheers
George