I’ve been reading this thread for quite some time now. (940+ entries) Some people like to be positive, some negative and others just try and start rumors that set off panic and speculation. Even though this is my first post on this forum, I have been a Comair long enough to know that best course of action for any of us to take is to just hang in there, take one day at a time and understand that Comair is a HUGE operation and plays a HUGE role in the overall function of the Delta domestic system. Also, people seem to of lost sight of the fact two recent major events took place that can only improve Comair as a company and improve our relationship with Delta. (the departure of JC and the promotion of Don to DCI) Our union now has a leadership that is more in tune with the industry and has lost the leaders (JC, Bill, Corey) who had a ‘with us, or against us’ mentality. I think we can all take notes from two other airlines, Sky West and Express Jet, that have much more amicable relationships between the pilot group and management. (Sky West pilot group is not represented by a union and ExpJet is APLA) Don’t get me wrong, unions are good but the power of labor has diminished over the last 20 years in all unionized workforces. Now the focus needs to turn to how the two can work together and I think we are on the right track to have new leadership in the union that can work with management. With regards to Don, he is Comair through and through. He grew up in Erlanger, he worked his way up the chain to become president of a company he loves. We could not ask for a better person to be at bat for us at DCI. I have a strong feeling that he’ll take care of us with regard to Delta. With that said, us being sold has great potential to be the best thing that has happened to us in a long time. Either way, Comair has a rich history and a long standing relationship with the company that owns us. Out of all the DCI carriers, Comair repeatedly receives accolades from passengers and Delta for the type of product we put to the sky each and every day. Comair has a great group of people that know how to get the job done. You guys don’t think Delta knows this? The performance numbers that are flashed up all day long often reflect poor operational performance, but that more often than not is a reflection of the operational environment we are faced with each day. Delta understands that. What they don’t understand is why Mesa will, in a effort to get those numbers up, will take off without any bags just to get an on time departure. That type of decision making gets noticed by the higher-ups and trust me, it will make decisions much easier on who stays and who goes.
So before I step off my soap box, I just want to say that Comair is a great airline with great people that provide a great product. I’ve been flying the 900 around quite a bit recently and the passengers are EXTREAMLY impressed. That type of exposure for us is really great. The trade of one 50 for one 90 may seem to some as bad, but if that trend continues and Delta listens to its customers (trust me, they do) Comair could stand to be an entire 70/90 fleet in the very near future. We have one of the best training departments in the industry right now that have the ability to move people through differences at a faster rate than any other carrier operating CRJ’s. One of the contributing factors to us initially getting the 900 was our ability to get them on line quickly with qualified crews.
The landscape is changing. We are all aware of that. DCI will soon become 4 to 5 carriers. (more like 4, and we already lost 1, big sky; we picked up some of their flying and now we’re looking to get VPS flying from LGA and DCA) Comair has the reputation and now the leadership and people to make us one of the remaining 4. All of you new guys, hang in there. When there is time for panic, you will know it. The downsizing that is going on now is unavoidable with $96 a barrel crude. DCI will eliminate 35 jets from the system. Not all will be Comair aircraft. (Delta has said that the ERJ135 will be removed and CHQ has 17). So let’s all just take a deep breath and relax a bit; let this story play its self out and be glad that we work for an airline that has been here for the long haul and plans on staying.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!