Originally Posted by
forgot to bid
Tis true. Somewhere around 19 DC9s.
But we did have 71 DC9s in 2008. So 88 717s - 71 DC9s = 17 GROWTH JETS!
In 2015. Or 8 years after the merger.
But no worries, 17 is halfway to the goal of having as many mainline jets in 2015 as we did in 2008. The MD90s (if) at 65 frames - 2 or 3 spares will help get back to making us whole. Or 2008 + 4!
Of course that requires ASM growth even with DCI@450!
Of course, remember... future success through expanded margins! Limited back-fill! Improved productivity! Not going on any (growth) benders! We're going to de-risk and de-leverage! Grind down net debt some form or fashion! The goal - investment grade! Oh and growth... in global consolidation!
Not that there is anything wrong with that. Wise is not always preferable for employees but the question is
should we just get used to the idea of being in the same place in 2015 that you were in 2009?
I mean this is the movement roller coaster we all want to be on...
But it's not the one we're on. This is probably ours, or at least Bar's:
Growth...I forgot what that feels like. Kinda like Peter Pan in Neverland.
I was never at a regional/lcc that had explosive growth so I can't see it through those eyes.
Of course I want Richard to be smart and make all the right moves, but it would be really really nice to hire 3000 pilots, sooner rather than later. How are we gonna get Boomer on the list if we don't start hiring?
This summer, we've been living at the beach. One of my neighbors, about 4 doors down is a retired Exxon executive. We had a discussion about the trainer refinery - a topic that he knew more about than me - by far...He was visibly and animatedly positive that it was a brilliant move..."Genius" was his word choice...FWIW.
I've got time to let the puzzle pieces fall into place. Sooner is better than later though.
Also, I should have bought that picture of me and my wife on the roller coaster to keep it off the web. Bar should have sat at the back...
