The following email was sent to the Horizon pilot group. I hope you still don't think scope is worthless if we become the only airline in the US that outsources airplanes over 100 seats. Delta is acquiring 717's, American is getting 319's and Alaska is parking everything smaller than 160 seats.
Fellow Horizon Pilots,
Members of your EXCO and Scheduling Committee as well as representatives from the IBT Airline Division met with Horizon Management in San Francisco, CA this week to discuss future fleet plans. We had hoped to have more to say to you on the subject. However, management revealed no specific plans other than a desire to bring jets back on to the property. Your Union representatives were asked if we were willing to work with the company to try and find a solution that would help accomplish this goal. We replied in the affirmative.
So what does this mean going forward? Company management will now go to the AAG Board and inform them that your Union is open to attempting to craft a labor solution to meet their anticipated needs for providing CPA lift to fill the gap between 76 seat Q400’s and 160+ seat B737 800’s and 900’s. In order to start working on ways to accomplish this, we have asked the company to provide as much detail as possible, including, but not limited to:
• Aircraft type
• Anticipated or desired time frame before introduction of such new aircraft into revenue service
• Anticipated or desired initial number of aircraft to be ordered
• Possible/proposed route structure
• Company “asks”*, if any
Data requested in the above bullet points gives us better understanding on the economics surrounding a new fleet implementation. With a better understanding of a two fleet operation, we will be in a better position to factually address the company's considerations as well as developing our own proposals.
While this communication is short on details, it represents the essence of what transpired in San Francisco this week. There currently are no future meetings scheduled. If the AAG Board wants to proceed, your Union representatives are ready to meet and start discussions as soon as practicably possible. If you have any questions, please contact a member of the EXCO.
Fraternally Your EXCO,
Jeff Cox
Chris Shoemaker
Chris Liston
Mark Niles
Drew Gottschalk