Doesn't matter, the arbitrator is only looking at what is the most fair integration for all parties. USAirways has been in business since the 1930s, while AWA only started in the 1980s. As a result the most senior AWA pilot was hired well after the most senior USAirways pilot.

The most senior USAirways pilot is an international widebody captain while the most senior AWA pilot is a domestic narrowbody captain. The top 1000 USAirways pilots will be gone in 9 years. The USAirways merger commitee takes this into account with conditions and restrictions in the proposal. Of the 3700 or so active USAirways pilots only 1300 will still be around after 2015. The AWA pilot group will experience turbo growth as a result of the massive East side retirements.

Condition and Restrictions that last through 2014 will ensure that no side is unfairly disadvataged. It guarantees captain positions to current AWA pilots in PHX and LAS.

The USAirways propopsal is very fair. Of course there will be those unhappy with it, myself included. In the USAirways proposal I would be junior to an AWA pilot hired 10 years after me!! I would have been number 10 on the USAirways list at retirement. I would have been a widebody international captain for at least the last five years of my career. If the USAirways proposal goes through that would be reduced to the last two years.

The majority of AWA pilots will make out like bandits in this merger. The majority of U pilots will only hold what they have until retirement.

If you look at the arbitrator's previous decisions you will find that the financial strength of the respective airlines is almost immaterial. The non-merged career expectations are far more important.


Typhoonpilot