Originally Posted by
UnitedExpress
It’s quite evident that United is moving towards Ch 11 in order to restructure under Kirby. 36,000 employees: 15,000 FAs, 2250 pilots. Those are massive numbers. Out of all the regionals XJT has the most top-heavy pilot group. It makes XJT very expensive to contract out to during a pandemic, especially with only 50 seat aircraft which Kirby has said on more than one occasion now he intends to eliminate. Let’s face it SK has a track record of shrinking every airline he’s been apart of.
What about Air Wisconsin? Extremely top heavy and paid better. Inferior equipment, but that is easy to fix. Welcome them to the game of whipsaw flying aircraft owned by United, and operated by whoever survives Thunderdome.
RAH and SKW can lowball UAL and operate at a loss or breakeven, XJT is (in theory) owned by UAL so I can see preferring those carriers over XJT since UAL incurs costs when XJT loses money.
I don't think this is posturing to get Washington to pass another stimulus. They're serious about this, too much money involved. Just my opinion and that and $3 will buy you a cup of coffee assuming your local Starbucks is open.
XJT management needs to be more open and honest about what the options really are. Yes, they don't know what UAL is going to do. But in some meeting somewhere I believe they were told shutdown was on the table. That is the only explanation for the WARN notices for everyone.