I've been curious about this, but unable to research any kind of factual data. I personally, and realistically, understand that wet leasing has it's place in the overall business model. It seems like there are instances where the flexibility is advantageous. Short range opportunities to capitalize on, where our current structure cannot serve. Copy.

Where we all have issue is when flights that are normally, or could be, flown by FX pilots are taking place outside of that scenario. Like seeing Atlas 74's blasting off to their HNL layover all spring.

My question is the cost-to-revenue comparison for those flights. At the end of the day, what costs the company more? Hiring Atlas to fly that freight or paying our pilots, mechanics, dispatchers, and everyone/everything that goes into our 777 flying the same route? My assumption is that all purple assets generates more revenue, otherwise what is the business model based on? And ultimately, if that is the case, then what would drive the company to increase wet-leasing in place of purple assets being utilized?

Fred was a great leader and seemed to care more for his pilot employees. He also had a knack for aviation it seems. But, he's also smart and I can't imagine him running the airline the way he did simply out of pride. Not to the detriment of lost revenue for five decades. So, is this a new CEO and DRIVE issue, or is this pain truly because of the economic downturn we're living in?

Outsourcing to ASL is a separate topic, to my knowledge. But as many have pointed out, international rules dont allow us to control that aspect of their planning. I have seen the suggestion that a mutual agreement between the union and the company can exist and be free of the RLA restrictions, but has any other company successfully negotiated something similar?

Bottom line, what has changed in the last 10 months that now has wet-leasing and outsourcing the entire airline as a real possibility? Not rhetorical, actual question. I'm very concerned as a newer pilot here. If the answer is that we gain more by flying our own freight, then are we possibly getting too invested in the idea of the company wet-leasing us to death?