Meanwhile, back at the topic...
Originally Posted by
80ktsClamp
At DL- Whales have remained based in dtw, but deployment has changed some.
Narrowbody airbuses have been reallocated to shorter haul routes while 737NGs (lower cost for long legs) have taken over the transcons that they used to do.
A330s have been sent more and more to south america to take advantage of the cargo hauling capability.
If I understand correctly, other than the top widebodies, original DL and former NW pilots can now bid any base and/or aircraft in the new DL system. That makes it much easier to deploy assets where they most make sense.
I know Parker promised the AA pilots seven year fences at the beginning of the merger talks (and I don't know if that even made it into the AA MOU). But if that is the case, it would not be as easy to deploy an A330 to JFK, or a 737-800 to PHL, without incurring the cost of many RON's by the pilots who still have the fenced rights to fly those aircraft.
Of course, any fences that are in place could always disappear in a JCBA. But that will be at least a couple of years hence. It sounds as if Parker and Kirby are itchy to start re-deploying assets right away.