Originally Posted by
Skyvector
Interesting analysis, and one that I agree with. Only thing I'm not 100% sold on is a merger. I assume you mean Envoy merging with Piedmont. But that would reduce the company's ability to whipsaw.
But I agree that there is a long term plan for Envoy which involves us being the E-175 operator. In fact, AA said as much in their last meeting with Envoy. But first there is a size they need to get us down to.
It would reduce the ability to whipsaw but PDT would not be an effective whipsaw candidate anyhow as they are not going to be flying equipment comparably sized to envoy and PSA.
Ask yourself why would AAG spend the money to start up a 145 program at a wholly owned when they could keep them at envoy or farm them out to a current operator? Is it that they need to provide those aircraft in order to kick in the concessions at PDT so that the envoy and PDT contracts would be similar enough that an arbitrated JCBA would retain the 12/4 caps and other provisions?
The fear and attrition this announcement caused at envoy and the influx of new hires at PDT it caused is just icing on the cake if the goal is to merge the groups.