Originally Posted by
DENpilot
To add my 2 cents, I think we'll see an overall reduction in CRJs in the Delta system.
Eagle flying is possible, but I wouldn't expect a significant number of airframes. After all, how are we able to compete with the cost structure of places like Republic and GoJet? Not one airline could staff all the Eagle flying that will put out to bid, and that is why we will probably see a piece of it. I wouldn't expect new airframes either. If there is, it could be a while before we see that get into motion, we would definitely need a new contract first. In fact, the company has said at least once that they want a contract before bidding on Eagle flying.
The attrition on the CRJ side is slow. In fact, they have only lost 20 guys in the last 6 months! ERJ side has seen triple that. However, most are FO's that are leaving, 58% to be exact.
What this means is, while we upgraded a lot during the summer, upgrades will be slow into the future since Captains are not seeing a lot of movement. Frankly, there are not a lot of places to go to right now.
And what Eagle flying do you see your company picking up? Not trying to stir the pot, and yea I don't want my AMR to farm any flying. But you guys have been raving how good your contract is and how much you guys get paid over what you fly! Your longevity "Issue" is not to far compared to ours and you have just mentioned how many of your captains are not going anywhere. You have the capability to fly the ERJ and CRJ, so do we! You say you wouldn't expect new airframes, what are you expecting for AMR to park it's 50 seaters and have you guy yours for them. Nothing stops AMR right now from doing this, nothing has stopped them in the past!
AMR Management says that it wants to spread the flying around, they have been saying that since they combine all the flying 15 years ago, they also say they want to sell Eagle but do nothing about it, as a matter of fact right now AMR is pumping a lot of money into Eagle;
CAT II (waiting on the final FAA details)
Ipad (Company manuals approved and being utilized, trail period for the Jepp)
AQP
All FO are starting to be typed in the airplanes soon (or so they say)
TPS (performance numbers just like AA has them)
AMR makes Eagle look like AA more and more everyday on the operations side, why would they put all this money and shrink it or sell t to someone where all of this would be lost. Not saying they are not going to farm the flying out but most people here are licking their chops and predicting another Comair! Right now AMR is setting up Eagle with a contract where they don't have to whipsaw, the contract is going to give them favorable cost compared to SKW Holdings, RAH and other larger regionals, while keeping it in house, we don't have a strike vote as well. So who knows what is going to happen they could shrink us to oblivion or they could do other things but just because your management says they want a contract doesn't mean you will get it. Pinnacle and Eagle are going to get concessionary contracts, RAH has a bad contract, you can't compete with GoJet cost structure, in other words EXJ is one of the most expensive regionals out there. What do you think your management is going to try to do about this on your new contract to be able to attract new flying?