Both are great posts.
Originally Posted by
Itsajob
A backlog at TK only slows furloughs when pilots are needed on the line. They’re planning for basically a 30% reduction with this bid. If we’re reduced 60% in October, we really don’t need very many pilots and that backlog isn’t that big of a deal. They could furlough 4,000 (approximate 30% number for sake of argument only) in October and simply train the survivors when they can. Also, by announcing a big number out of the gate, they can bypass training for everyone who will get furloughed. It’s more efficient than furloughing in waves when your demand and revenue are gutted. I’m afraid that we are more expendable than we like to think.
A backlog at TK doesn't matter because, as you mentioned, we're very expendable with current (lack of) flying demand from the public.
Originally Posted by
Itsajob
Im glad that I don’t have to figure this mess out. Sitting home on reserve when your nonqual is a much better deal. I do think that Carlson and others in the company are very good at what they do. The 550 was a cleaver scope dodge, and this bid was well thought out within the framework of our contract. That worries me. I have no doubt that they will find a way to make a very big cut in October if that is what they want to do.
This massive displacement allows the company to train whomever they want. And yes, I would expect the cuts in October to be brutal from looking at the numbers. I would expect the first pilots retrained as 737/320 FOs to be some of the most senior displacements so that they will be able to keep the 737 and 320 properly staffed while they work on right sizing the airline.