Originally Posted by
DAL4EVER
So do you advocate the alternative and have all the airlines add 10% + capacity next year? That will work great if yields aren't there to support it. The collective capacity reduction and restraint shown by the airlines during this recession is unprecedented. As a result, no major carrier went bankrupt so far and furloughs, I believe, were minimized. Delta led the carriers with their capacity reduction and is a contributor I believe, to why they didn't furlough and are in the strength they are in. If the airlines collectively show restraint during the recovery it will be good for all.
This is all true, but you have to recognize that
any executive that encourages other airlines to do anything (and especially keep capacity down) will be viewed with some degree of skepticism. It's only normal. It's not so much funny because we lack credibility in terms of capacity restraint (we don't), but it's mostly funny because it suggests that rational thinking (or behavior) is possible in this industry.
So I don't mind that this strikes Seagull's funny bone. And the fact he acknowledged Delta's his Daddy only lends him more credibility.
Now, the fact
Delta said it makes it slightly
funny. If Southwest, JetBlue, or Virgin had talked about capacity restraint, then it would be more
ironic.