Originally Posted by
JetJock16
SKW has the lower cost between the two airlines but our upgrades aren't because of transfers. It's because of all the flying we've been awarded; between Midwest, DAL and UAL we've barely been able to keep up with upgrades and new hires. It's good that ASA got their scope otherwise JA could transfer a/c to SKW inorder to increase SKW Inc's margins. That's a huge win for ASA!
Like I said, ASA's new TA will not affect SKW upgrades. The only way that ASA could affect SKW upgrades is if we were to merge, and even then it would take years before an ASA pilot could take a SKW pilot upgrade because of fences that would be negotiated.
Not sure SkyWest really has the lowest operating cost. Look at reported profit margins in 06. Still my opinion that your ATL base will grow less than SkyWest management wanted and as a result the upgrades wouldn't come as fast.
(Operating Profit/Loss as Percent of Total Operating Revenue)
Regional Carriers
Pinnacle
Atlantic Southeast
American Eagle
ExpressJet
Sky West
Comair
Mesa
Seven-Carrier Total
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics; Form 41, Schedule P1.2