Originally Posted by
NWA320pilot
What do you think the hourly operating cost of a 747 is? You know what our pay runs so doing the math isn't too hard. I did the math right after BK and on something like the 320 and it took less than $1 per hour of flight per pax to recoup what we had giving up in hourly rates. Not too much extra $$ (or percentage) when looking at everything . Management would love for us to believe our pay is a make or break deal but in reality the hourly rate is a very small part of the operation of DAL.
When you figured out the hourly rate to have pilots fly a 747 did you add in the following?
Cost to maintain reserve pilots?
Retirement costs?
Medical costs?
Disability costs?
Vacation costs?
Trip and duty rig costs?
In 2004 Delta pilot costs were about 2.3 billion a year on 15 to 16 billion in total expenses. The math is pretty easy. Post merger today with the latest pay increases I understand we are around 2.5 billion (larger group, much lower pay) today with the airlines total expenses in the 27 billion range.
We deserve much higher pay and benefits. To try and state that pilot costs are a minimal expense to operate the airlines is however not the case.