April 24, 2015

Fellow Delta pilots,

Since 2009 ALPA has sounded the siren call on the danger from the Persian Gulf carriers, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways. We spotted the danger that would someday be posed by three carriers from two tiny oil-rich countries, with firm wide-body orders greater than the entire U.S. fleet.

Every single Delta pilot needs to clearly understand this. That danger has evolved and is now on our doorstep. You see it on the U.S. Rugby team shirts; you see it on the walls of the U.S. Open; you see it all over the World Cup; and it’s there in the 42 billion dollars of direct subsidies WE CAN PROVE.

We put out a Call-to-Action last week for pilots to contact their senators and congressmen, a Call-to-Action to get the U.S. government to enforce its Open Skies treaties with Qatar and the UAE. ALPA wide, only 2,500 of us have thus far answered that call. 2,500 of 50,000 ALPA members took the time to click a couple of links to help save their careers.

Brothers and sisters, that won’t do and we have no intention of losing this fight. If you haven’t figured it out, these three carriers from tiny dots on the map intend to take our passengers and already are. They are patient and are willing to infuse unlimited cash for operations while they dramatically shift market share . . . from us to them, forever.

Here’s the crux. It’s not illegal for the governments of the UAE and Qatar to treat their airlines like passenger hauling air forces. But to obtain permission to fly anywhere in the U.S. (for which we received the ability to fly anywhere in Qatar and UAE) they signed an agreement with the United States government saying they would abide by the rules, and the major rule says the individual governments will not subsidize their airlines thereby creating a wildly distorted marketplace.

We have been telling you this for a while, and because the threat seems so distant, perhaps it has become background noise. Ignoring this is a mistake, and will be a fatal one for our careers if we are determined to make it. We fight now, while we’re strong, while our company is strong, while we have the means, and before the ME3 carriers can complete their encirclement. We fight like these people are trying to invade our home and hurt our families, because that will in fact be the result if we fail to collectively act, and act now!

This is the most difficult of fights, because you don’t see Emirates jets parked in MKC and maybe you never will. But they’re in JFK, SEA, LAX, SFO, ORD, and DFW now, and soon they’ll be in MCO and ATL. And they’ll keep coming with more A-380s and 777s, serviced at their new mega spaceports in Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, all of which they get for. . . practically free . . . no taxes, no pesky unions, no labor rights, hire and fire at will, no EPA, no NMB, no OSHA, no retirement-all powerful, unlimited sovereign money posing as airlines. They’ve messed with the wrong people.

So here’s what I’m asking of you to immediately help save your career. Every day, get up, let the dog out, make a cup of coffee, log on to dal.alpa.org, and click on the Call-to-Action. The choice is simple and the outcome if we do nothing is assured. Answer the Call-to-Action every day starting now. If your congressman doesn’t know you by your first name, you aren’t clicking every day. That is what this takes-EVERY DAY; we are in battle, and there is no Christmas truce.

The other way we fight is through the PAC. I give at the Behncke level and so does most of the MEC. Back the PAC. If you’re not giving yet, start with the cost of that cup of coffee every day. Remember-Emirates bought THE WORLD CUP! They want your passengers, your airline, and your job. In my part of Chicago, if you intend to hurt my family I have no intention of waiting until you’re at my door. Start noticing, start acting, or start packing your bags for what will become a dramatically different career, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow. It’s just that simple.

Fraternally,
Captain Mike Donatelli
Delta MEC Chairman