Regarding hiring... When I went though indoc (recently, excuse the new guy for piping up) The network guy and a few of the other folks had a whole list of recent and planned events (MD-90, Int'l expansion, slot swap, etc) that were not accounted for with just hiring the 300 this time around. We were told a number of times that the 300 this year was specifically for the summer '11 schedule. They all seemed extremely bullish regarding hiring, not just specifically for next year but for the next 3-5. Every management type seemed to feel that this is the start of a huge hiring cycle at Delta.
However, some buds in the last indoc seemed to get the impression that there was daily back and forth on hiring numbers for next year, that a lot was up in the air next year for various reasons.
Also heard it said that many folks in high places felt Alaska was just too expensive. Isn't there a lot to be said for not buying the cow when you get the milk for free?
Other than the standard 717 and MD-88/90 cockpit upgrade talk, have also heard of couple of the instructors discussing JAL 747 rumors. None of them claimed to have any real inside gouge, though. This rumor seems to have died.
Speaking of a potential Alaska merger, How would that effect Delta folks if the SLI went close to how it went with Northwest? Anyone have good info on age distro of the AK pilot group? I am also curious how it might effect folks trying to get out west that were hired at Mother D before the merger.
Wouldn't securing Alaska let us build Seattle more aggressively as our gateway to Asia, resulting in more 767 work out of Seattle?
Everyone on here seems fascinated by the possibility, but would an Alaska merger be good or bad for the Delta pilot group WRT seniority? Are we hoping this happens or hoping it doesn't?