Originally Posted by sailingfun

I don't like the contract and will vote against it. However I have not ever known when ALPA national interjected themselves into Dalpa negotiations and don't believe that happened this time. In fact the agreement substantially reduces the number of DCI pilots that will be working on contract for Delta airlines. The hard cap on DCI will be 455 airframes down from something above 650 now. They also will not be able to access one additional 76 seat airframe without mainline growth.

The more I read and hear it actually is becoming obvious to me that the agreement contains a lot more for the bottom half of the seniority list then the top half. My initial reaction was that it could not ratify. As I hear more I believe it will pass with the bottom half of the list. The top half however will vote it down. The question is by how much and will it offset the bottom. The bottom will look at the advancement the deal will offer and ignore the small contractual raises for the upgrade opportunities. If what I hear is true they may be substantial.
To get out of the leases on a large number of RJ's the company will have to place a substantial aircraft order with the company that holds those leases. You can connect the dots on what that means but it starts with a C.