Originally Posted by
Boomer
Loophole ALERT:
What prevents Delta from flying the pants off the new 900s, going out of compliance for 18 months, then parking dozens of worn-out 50s in 2014 to get back in compliance? Who determines which aircraft get parked? Who determines which regional gets parked?
If the TA measures block hours instead of RASM, remember that one block hour in a 50 = one block hour in a EMB175/CRJ900.
Does the TA say DCI must park some ratio of 50s to 90s?
There is no loophole. What is being proposed is a succession of events. Without A, B cannot happen. When B happens, then C MUST happen.
A = Delta Mainline gets 1.25 717's
B = DCI gets 1 76 RJ
C = DCI then MUST park approximately 3 (between 2.7 and 4-ish) 50 seaters
Every time A happens, then the process can begin again until B = 70. Then the hard cap is reached and any further growth can only occur at mainline.
Every 10 times B happens, a snapshot is taken of the Mainline to DCI block hour ratio. That ratio becomes the new minimum ratio and cannot be reduced - ie mainline shrinks, DCI must shrink by the same amount (block hours not airframes.)
What you're suggesting is not possible under the proposed agreement. Hope that helps.