Originally Posted by
dawgdriver
True, the past is certainly no guarantee of the future, but I think we can agree that a company's past practices are at least indicative of future actions. The big 3 have routinely and unhesitatingly used furloughs as a staffing model and probably wouldn't hesitate to do it again given the first sign of a downturn. In stark contrast, SWA is quite proud of it's record of zero furloughs in 40 years to the extent GK still brags about it routinely. Company survival, sure, but not the quick fix of first resort routinely sought by the legacies. Less likely not only due to LUV's folksy reputation but moreso their conservative business model with limited international exposure, fuel hedging and a laser focus on reducing risk/cost/debt. It was this approach that enabled 40 years of uninterrupted profitability while sidestepping the ruinous boom-bust hiring/firing cycles suffered at the legacies.
JMHO
Calling a big fat BS on this opinion......Delta operated from 1924 to 1993 (69yrs) without furloughing a single pilot. Even in 1993, when they were faced with the pressures of deregulation and competitors who (wait for it) didn't offer any pensions, and/or used BK court to gut/lower their costs. When they furloughed then, they offered pilots jobs as baggage handlers and other positions throughout the system to employ as many that needed work.
Yes in 2001, the industry was WAY over capacity and they were forced to furlough 1300 as they parked a whole fleet of 727's almost immediately.
I hope it never comes to it for any pilot group, but a company will do what it has to to survive, including furlough. Even SWA may someday fall victim to an industry downturn, unplanned event, or market force that causes them to switch growth models.
To somehow imply that Delta mgmt flippantly furloughs while SWA's mgmt will take no salary to prevent same, is wholly drinking too much company koolaid.