Originally Posted by
JetJock16
But in this down economy Lift is almost equal to Demand. Yes lift more than likely will fall another 10% or so but it can't go much further (industry wide we’re running at over 80% capacity). If UAL or someone else goes under their lift will have to be completely replace so I’m sure O will work out some purchase agreement between one of the other healthier carriers much like Wells Fargo and Wachovia. I’m not a fan of O but he will not let a company the size of UAL go under.
excellent points. Mergers are #1 on my list. No one needs to be running 10 flights a day into BFE because 2 big boys merged and now you have the mainline and regional redundancy.
Lift may be 80%, but I find that hard to believe. Many are STILL furloughing, many are reducing lift (DAL, AMR). Lift is subjective because it is controlled by management. C'mon, you're on the DAL side, SKYW my be seeing 80% loads, but what is happening to the other DAL regionals? Their flying is being reduced. Those who control the airframes control the lift. They influence it, not the passengers. I use to see that with Airways back years ago... 3 flights going to BWI, the 1st 1/3 full, but the 2nd was 1/2 full. they cancel the 1st and move everyone to the 2nd to get a full flight. They would swap the airframe to somewhere else or keep it as a spare. Sure loads were up, but they really weren't. It was completely manipulated.