Originally Posted by
ATIPilot
ABX has the Inter-Asia authority and ATI has worldwide OPS SpECS with passenger ops. 2 very hard authorizations to get. You just can get pax on ABX cert very easy and ATI would have to jump through hoops to get the Inter Asia certs. But the hoops for Inter Asia are easier then pax/combi authority. Come March ATI will also have 300 RVR, something that was needed in Europe.
A lot of interesting ideas being offered here. But here's another: Whether or not anyone believes that Jakarta is real, let's assume that it is. I believe that would constitute intra-Asia. Maybe that's part of what's holding things up (again, I am only operating under the ass-u-me...ption that it will happen, not prognosticating that it might actually happen). Once that happens, ABX got nuttin on ATI to have a certificate worthy of continuation over ours.
Also, am I correct in the thought that CAM owns all of the airplanes in question here - ABX, ATI, soon to be ex-Cappy? If so, then does that take a little wind out of the sails behind the thought that DHL would want airlines with no assets? Huge element of control lost there. Cheaper in the short term, but (control your guffaws here...), I would hope that DHL still remembers how completely they got "served" a few years back in the US market.
As for Southern, not sure why AAWW doesn't go for them now. Seems they should be ripe for the picking. Besides, a good chunk of Atlas consists of ex-SAT refugees after the original shut down in 1998. I was one of them, but went to ATI.
I still think everything that is happening to us here under ATSG is in preparation for next year's re-up with DHL. We think it's ugly now? Just wait...