Originally Posted by
Trip7
Seems American and United have had no problem keeping the 50 seaters going.
They really really want them gone. I believe both companies are well below their allowable number of 50 seaters by scope.
During TA2 negotiations company asked for 50 more large RJs in exchange for the removal of all remaining 125 50 seaters. Word is the MEC finally gave the NC authority to use it as a bargaining chip after heated debate but at the table the company decided not to trade anything more for it.
While many see this type of trade as selling scope I see it as gaining scope while the company pays us more from the cost savings of removing expensive to operate 50 seaters from the fleet. Removing 6250 seats(125 50 seaters) adding 3800 seats(50 76 seaters) leaves a gulf of 2450 seats(22 110 seaters).
The 50 seaters are planes the company doesn't want. We aren't even at the number of 50 seat airframes allowed. Using airframes the company is already parking to allow them to get airframes they want anyway is foolish on our part, and yes, it is a scope give. 76 seaters in the first place was a give and every additional one is a give too. If it wasn't a give, why would the company want it?
On the other hand one could adopt a longer term strategy, hold tight on current scope and wait out however long it takes for 50 seater lifespan to run out in order to replace the 6250 50 seater seats with 56 110 mainline jets.
Airframes aren't replaced based on a fleet seat count.
IMO C2012 generated cries of selling scope when it actually drove significant hiring and movement within the Delta pilot ranks due to scope recapture. Hiring at Delta has far exceeded hiring at United and American. If a similar type trade reappears in C2019 negotiations I am in favor of it.
It was not scope recapture. It was giving the company something they wanted in exchange for us "getting" something the company already wanted I the first place.
By your logic, E195s at DCI would be acceptable if total seat count went down. We don't operate them as a mainline airplane after all.