Originally Posted by
newKnow
acl,
Here why I think Alaska is a bigger threat to us than RJET:
They both share the threat to take our flying.
But, there are no rumors out there that we might merge with RJET.
Let's say in response to increased flying to fly their DL codeshare, Alaska hires a few hundred pilots to add to a 1,300 pilot seniority list, and we later merge with them? A new hire could move up 10-20% in relative seniority fairly quickly on such a small list.
What does that do to our SLI position as Delta pilots? I can't say for sure, but whatever it does, it wouldn't be good for us. Especially, since SLI arbitrators continue to merge seniority list by ratio.
I'm watching what Alaska does and RAH does with equal intensity. But, I can see where Alaska growth has more of a potential to harm us.
See where I'm coming from?
I am looking beyond just the immedeate threat of our flying, I am looking at the precedent set by stating the holding companies are not air carriers. That plays in to both of these airlines. Same holds true for Delta Air Elite.
Simply put, anything with the DAL code, and or managed in some way by DAL Holdings and or DAL airlines is bound by our section one. This stance would include anything DAL Holdings chooses to do, which may include DAL Air Elite, Sky Team, A stake in a foreign carrier, etc. Remember I am talking about a holding company, not an airline.
Currently DAL Airlines owns DAL holdings, but a simple paperwork filing can change that Org Chart.
Wrt to ALK, I agree that the best solution for the DAL pilots to acquire ALK before they buy an airline like Hawaiian and then have WB expectations. That frankly would hurt our career the most.
Wrt to RJET, frankly nothing surprises me any more, and I see them as trying to make themselves attractive to the majors. In any outcome, our Section One and PWA as a whole needs to transcend the airline itself and hold a holding company and a alliance to its limits.