Originally Posted by
alfaromeo
Focusing on RJ growth right now is akin to focusing on the Soviet menace invading western Europe. It's over. Industry consolidation is here. After CAL/UAL get together then AMR will have to make some move. They will all face the same phenomenon as what happened at Delta. A larger carrier will need larger jets. In case you haven't noticed, RJ's are falling away like flies. They are undergoing massive consolidation now, (probably forced by their parent carriers) because the ones that don't consolidate will die. Comair is shrinking by half and we are hiring. Delta's RJ capacity shrunk 4.4% last quarter and will probably be more than that this quarter.
50 seaters yes, 90 seaters Scoped to 76 seaters not so much. I think with FTDT NPRM there will be further downward financial pressure to fly more seats per RJ to remain profitable. As you state no one wants that except management. Our best defense is keeping everyone under one roof, keeping the pressure on to raise RJ wages and benefits to where they are no longer the whipsaw/outsource incentive. This is best accomplished from within ALPA. Worst yet if another major leaves ALPA they WILL BE predominately representing RJ and low cost carriers (as in BOD/EVP votes) and we will have the full power and assets of ALPA, in fact, not just conjecture, working for the interests of RJ carriers. Doh!