Thread: Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
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Old 04-29-2011 | 07:27 PM
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DAL 88 Driver
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Originally Posted by acl65pilot
A few things that make it easier for them but are not inclusive. 1) Less Debt load which equates to less debt service, or in layman's terms, less interest paid, 2) They work more block hrs per pilot than we do, and fly less credit. I suggest looking at the MIT Website website: Airline Data Project
and here is one that offers comparitive analysis:
http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/2...0Summary09.htm

Here is a direct wage one that shows the LUV pilots making more but you need to look at block per pilot as well:

http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/2...0PERSONNEL.htm

This one is a good start, because it gives equivalent pilots for equal block.
http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/2...ity%202009.htm

Here is the block per pilot breakdown:
http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/2...er%20Month.htm

Passengers per pilot:

http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/2...Equivalent.htm
Interesting stats and analysis. You say that SWA pilots "work more block hours" and "fly less credit." Yet SWA's welcome packet to the AirTran pilots doesn't seem to back that assertion up. According to the packet, the average SWA pilot flies 105 TFP ("trips for pay") and has 18 days off per month. I think I remember reading somewhere else that they average about 70-something block hours. And yet they make about 55% more than our average pilot.

And I didn't even look at the links you provided. They may paint a relevant picture, and then again they may not. You can show just about anything you want with selective statistics. The MIT guy is Swelbar. Here's an excerpt from his bio on his blog. I wouldn't necessarily put too much stock in what he has to say as he could very well have an agenda behind it and I think his credibility is suspect:

"Prior to accepting his research position at MIT, Swelbar spent 25 years in the consulting world with a focus on airline labor cost restructuring, regulatory issues governing air transport, communication strategy and support, and air service development on behalf of airports and communities."