Originally Posted by
MrBojangles
Also, while we are talking about past memos; I remember one a few months ago that said we would need 7000 pilots in the next decade and we were trying to figure out how we would train them all. Now in this memo that number has been reduced to 3500. What gives?
We are trying to become more efficient. Although, I was an "against" voter, I have been looking at our position as an airline. We need to pay the piper sooner than later. Why?
-Delta is staffing aircraft at around 17 crews per plane. The nearest competitor is between 15 and 16. So technically, we are overstaffed on a comparison basis.
-NRT hub under attack. Can be a very Bad thing if NRT is null-and-void.
-Our true debt is over 43 billion dollars. A few billion more than our nearest competitor.
-RA has been know to say he wants a 9000 pilot work force at Delta. We are getting closer to this number monthly. Our new contract allows us to fly more, thus less pilots needed. Lately, I have been flying with Captains that fly more than I expected (over 90 hours/month).
** It is apparent and needed that Delta be on a Diet. We need to lean out and become more efficient. I would rather not hire, than hire and furlough. Management needs to do what management deems necessary to make us competitive. What I dislike is the way the UNION "sells" on behalf of management.
These are the reasons, imho, that we are not hiring anytime soon and coincidentally our stock price reflects our inefficiency and debt.
TEN