Originally Posted by
Mason32
You really don't understand how mainlines operate their in house regionals do you?
Yes... Poorly.
Eagle and Comair don't cost any more than anybody else.
WOW you need to read a little more before posting.
I mean, realistically, do you think the jet burns more Jet-A just because it Eagle or Comair on the side? or the ground power unit uses less fuel at in STL because it says TSA on the side? In the big scheme of things the cost differences are very little.
No but the efficiency of the fleets, MX programs, internal structure of the company, training facilities, etc. all add up to a huge difference. There's no way that Eagle can even think about touching RAH when it comes to operating cost. Not bragging about it just pointing it out.
On top of that, at least in the AMR case, you are talking about a company that is totally all about control... something they have less of with a subcontractor.
Yet they've been very happy with CHQ at least.
AA/AMR is all about brand protection and control, which is what led them to BUY their subcontractors and form Eagle in the first place.
They use to be before they started bleeding money into the streets with an old jet fleet, tons of long term debt, crews working for less, thousands of pilots on the street, -50% year to date return, and a market share that's in the pits. They are in survival and restructure mode. AE is not cheap. They're one of, if not the most, expensive regional out there. They are about brand protection which is why all the aircraft are painted the same. I don't think a pax really cares if there's a red wing or a blue wing on the tail. Lets not forget they wanted to keep TSA and furlough from AE but the unions stepped in. They already showed their opinion on things.