Originally Posted by
sailingfun
We originally opened for something way beyond 265 dollars an hour. The negotiating committee did not even like the opener and after the fact stated several times we could have had a agreement early on at a higher rate had we not opened around 400 an hour. We had 15 on order and with the disagreement the last 7 orders were cancelled.
3b6 was a one shot deal and we blew are wad. The company vowed not to take delivery of any airframe again without a agreement on rates. That basically nullified 3b6.
As far as Carl's question on UAL the Delta rates established on the 73n, 767-400 and 777 were well above anything else in the US industry. It forced the CEO of united to raise his offer substantially and UAL settled for what were essentially the 3b6 rates. The UAL referred to it as the Delta dot and said it tied his hands.
The MEC negotiating committee could deal with the opening position. It was when the MEC didn't let the committee do its job that things fell apart. The end result could have achieved sooner, with all 15 jets delivered, had the committee been free to operate on its own. Everyone learned a lesson.