Originally Posted by
duvie
From what I've seen and heard between my internship with an involved party and my experience as a SKW pilot I think XJT management put the nail in their own coffin, which unfortunately may take the pilot group with them. XJT is one of the best operated regionals, that is an undeniable fact. The real problem is that XJT management got in a pi$$ing match with CAL's upper echelon and ended up biting the hand that fed them.
It's no secret that Jim Ream and Larry Kellner have some serious issues with eachother. Jim Ream (XJT CEO) has acknowledged this a thousand times. The reality is Continental and Larry Kellner hold the cards, period. XJT thought back on the initial 69 plane release, they'd be in a power position with Continental and ultimately shot themselves in the foot.
There is definitely some serious personality conflicts there.
Originally Posted by
duvie
I am in no way commenting who started the rift between CAL and XJT. As a crewmember, sometimes you want to turn to the guy next to you and smack him, but handling things in a tactful way keep the cockpit dynamic safe, which is the ultimate goal. We all have to put our pride away, and as a regional airline sometimes we have to cater to the whims of our providers. For whatever reason, right or wrong, XJT management refused to placate CAL management during their falling out and now there is a bunch of CAL flying up for grabs. SKW has wanted to do business since they lost our IAH flying to Colgan four years ago.
Again, XJT thought they held the cards with CAL being the primary regional feeder for CAL's hubs. This obviously turned out to be a huge oversight. Jim Ream and Jim Nides of XJT have said they wished CAL would've just canceled the entire CPA at the initial release. Somehow, someway this would've allowed XJT to fly on a pro-rate basis and loosen the grip of CAL's iron fist. I think it's a power play XJT can and never will win.
Originally Posted by
duvie
Now, given, I'm not Jerry's confidant but I feel confident from my dealings with him and the management I've met that they aren't the type that would relish the chance to put a great airline (XJT) out of business. As evidenced by recent business dealings, they would rather keep XJT flying for CAL then do the flying under the SKW banner. It is advantageous for SKW and XJT. You guys already have a top notch airline in place and you get to retain the flying that you would likely have lost.
I've always truly believed Continental simply wants XJT's management out of the picture. Hence, their dealings and negotiations with SKYW behind their back. XJT maintained the SKYW bid was unsolicited. It's obvious it was solicited by mother CAL.
Originally Posted by
duvie
As a pilot, my opinion has no effect on the outcome of this situation, but it would be nice to put all the hostility away. From where I stand CAL and XJT's relationship was falling apart, there was a bunch of flying about to be up for grabs and SKW moved on it.
XJT guys: am I totally off base here or what?
The hostility is unfortunately here to say, IMO. XJT pilots feel that SKYW guys will fly for cheaper (as evidence of their -900 rates), will take their LAX flying, and ultimately move into the CoEx bases. This could've all been averted if XJT management would've realized their rates are above and beyond market value. That's no secret. But hindsight is 20/20 at this point.
From an investor standpoint, Jim Ream and staff are responsible for billions of dollars in shareholder value. I'd be surprised if any of them hold a job at XJT within a year.