Originally Posted by
Nevets
This would depend on MAGALPA's fragmentation clause. I don't know what it is but it may prevent that sort of scenario, in which you get stapled to the bottom of the seniority list and leave ALPA behind.
I'm familiar with the clause, it is not relevant unless SKW actually BUYS mesa (which they won't).
Here's how it would work:
1) US Air awards the PHX/LAS flying to SKW, coincident with the expiration of the mesa contract in 2012. The award would probably be in 2010, or even 2009 to allow transition planning.
2) SKW buys airplanes from mesa (or maybe from somewhere else). Buying from mesa at a higher-than-market value would effectively bribe JO to go along with the scheme.
3) SKW offers current MAG CRJ pilots the opportunity to staff the new flying with some incentive, fences and/or longevity protection. They would be SKW new hires with seniority to match to be fair to the SKW pilots. MAG pilots would be ecstatic to escape MAG and MAG/ALPA in exchange for the SKW package...especially if they don't have to interview and get to keep some longevity.
This scheme is not legally a successorship, and would only be necessary if the pilot market remains tight (which it probably will).