My opinion/observation:

-We have an average of 16+ pilots per aircraft. I think economically we should be at 13 or 14. I guarantee you RA thinks less than that.

-RA likes to right size airlines. At NWA we had 6600 pilots. His goal was expressed to have less than 4900 pilots. This was before 9/11.

-With 3rd world airlines like AEROMEXICO/GOL in Skyteam, why would we grow? AM/GOL could grow much cheaper than Delta, while Delta could reap the profits and code benefits.

-Skyteam is a threat: Just observe the Skyteam growth. In my opinion, it is more economical to grow a cheaper run airline. Delta flights are being marketed as Skyteam because Skyteam is being diluted with cheaper labor and operational cost airlines. Look at all the 787, 777, 380 orders by our partners. Sure we ordered some 737s, but that is because Skyteam airlines other than Delta can not fly state to state domestically, yet.

-Outsourcing will kill our careers. It is on its way. Just look at the cruise line industry. Carnival Cruise Lines is a US based cruise ship operator. But none of their cruise ships are registered in the US. Why? So that Carnival can pay little or no US taxes, pay less to labor and pays little attention to US labor laws.

We need to be careful. Again this is my observation and opinion. I think Delta will be less than 9000 pilots in the future at this rate.

TEN