Originally Posted by FlyZ

Sailing, our US routemap is turning green from left to right. Take a look: http://images.delta.com.edgesuite.ne...aps/us_map.pdf

When I compare that even to a few years ago, I see us being slowly pushed eastward. It's gone from some in SEA to most N-S west coast flying and lately the trend has been toward transcons. Either they are immune from the economy that's holding us back, or we are planning to hand them a bunch more flying in the next few years. They are increasing their fleet by 20%. I call that big growth in an economic environment that's forcing a lot of carriers, including SWA, to keep flat capacity. Are they stupid to try to grow that much? Or is there a plan to continue to cede our routes to them?

My question: is there a point at which you, or ALPA, will start to be concerned? They own SEA. The latest rumor is that they are moving into SLC and our other hubs. Will we let them have everything west of the Mississippi? For the good of Delta? And the bad of the Delta pilots? At some point, whatever extra revenue is being generated by them flying our pax instead of us flying them will not help us. It would take a lot of 4% raises to make up for 10 more years of stagnation.