Originally Posted by
iaflyer
Well - the only way Delta could operate with 500 to 1000 less pilots is to park airplanes (as I understand the staffing right now). But since Delta is talking about cutting capacity, they could easily park airplane - poof, there goes the need for that 500-1000 pilots (if they cut enough).
One thing I've learned in this business is that airlines can shrink to unimaginably small sizes if business is bad enough: one of my former cargo airlines had 120 pilots when I was started there in 2000. Now it has 8.
Well I agree things could get bad enough to furlough that many, but my point was based on current plans & projections. I think the economy would have to get MUCH worse in order for DAL to park that many airplanes. Especially with a projected profit for 2009 & beyond.