The DC-9s were on their way out, and NYC 320 was going to need to get staffed from somewhere. So it REALLY comes as no surprise that MEM is closed out with this bid. Is there anybody out there that didn't see that coming?

CVG is most likely not far behind. So since no one else has yet brought it up, let me just remind everyone what we all heard three years ago. "There will be no base closures as a result of this merger." RA and EB. Said multiple times. I was personally in attendance when EB assured us all that he would "personally guarantee" the base. Gee thanks, E. All the while I was dying to ask him just one question - why does Delta need CVG? Where does CVG fit into Delta's strategy? But, unfortunately in the course of his Q and A, he made it abundantly clear that he didn't know where the price of oil (and hence the state of our company) would be 6 months hence. So, the desire to ask my question naturally abated.

Of course, we got the 2 year guarantee (in the form of up to 30k per pilot in realty fees, etc) if they broke that promise within 2 years. So 3 years later, they are safe from that obligation by half. CVG MAY be only waiting for MEM to get worked through the training cycle before they're gone too.

I just want everyone to remember how this effects our QOL as a group. This is going to maybe make some retire, but will also make many more of us commuters. And the seniority in the remaining bases gets squeezed. And the options available to all of us as a pilot group are lessening. Also, we need to remember how this reflects on the integrity of our leaders, as much as want to have faith in them.

All of this needs to be remembered in negotiations. We all need to be compensated for this!

eor (end of rant)