Originally Posted by
Bluewaffle
Just Curious, what was your corporate analysis for the 2017 year?
An evaluation period of the strategic initiatives and increased productivity on both the pilot and airframe side.
New mgmt, needed to see their strategy first.
Did you just come up with this because you saw a leaked memo from our Director of pilot hiring?
No, I've already explained why I think big hiring is inbound.
Going from 500 pilots hired this year to 700 next year is a big push?
Where did I say this? As far as numbers I said I didn't believe the 450 that's been quoted, and think the ultimate announcement will be in excess of 1k.
Im just not following your logic at all. The investor briefings that you're referring to do not indicate a big push in hiring at all.
Publishing a hiring number to WS is irrelevant. The strategy matters, hiring is just a tool to complete the operation.
They indicated desire for increased productivity, not only from the aircraft utilization but from the pilots themselves. They want to grow the airline while hiring as little as possible.
What do you think 2017 has been all about. Minimal hiring yet 10% mainline growth.
We have no idea how many future orders are growth aircraft or replacement aircraft.
Not entirely true. Debatable as to whether some older frames get retired early once max's come online; dependent on macro demand factors obviously. Akin to what Kirby just said about the 756 fleet.
Right now, save for Dulles, we don't have the gate space to park a bunch of growth aircraft.
Mgmt has already said this and is experimenting with some initiatives to more effectively manage gate space while also upgauging to grow ASMs.
I see this Airline hovering around 12,700 pilots for the foreseeable future.
I see 2018, assuming no catastrophic macro events, ending with 13k or more.