Originally Posted by
vprMatrix
This is a point I have made before, so much of the hidden cost of outsourcing large RJs cannot be accounted for but is coming directly from Delta's bottom line. ALPA (as of the last few months) claims the Delta has shown them the internal numbers that show mainline can't fly CRJ-900s profitably but given how they like to "hold these numbers close to their chest" I have to wonder if the numbers Delta "shared" with DALPA were not spun just a little.
In all honesty ALPA should not be relying on management's numbers.
One of the advantages of working for a large union is that your E&FA department gets to look at 37 different airlines and their internal numbers. While they are bound by confidentiality agreements they can quickly tell which carriers are out of the norm. ALPA also has copies of all the DCI (and many other regionals)ASA agreements and can match the numbers from the agreements with data provided by management. Lastly, most of the regionals are publicly traded companies (Trans States excepted) and have SEC reporting requirements. Those are yet another crosscheck.
In all honesty ALPA doesn't rely just on management's numbers.