Packrat

That's the key...they're LEASED. Using the same logic, they got rid of the MDs for a single airframe fleet. There's a whole lot of benefit NOT needing two training departments, two parts supplies, two pilot groups, two reserve pools, etc., etc.

The day AS bought VX, the Bus time on the property was limited.

rickair7777

This is all truth. There is significant cost savings to single-fleet, including avoiding pilots cross-fleeting for personal reasons. I have a friend at one of the big three who got divorced and decided he needed a new hobby... so he's collecting every type rating on property.

AS is probably a bit small to need or benefit much from two NB fleets, and even though NEO is a better plane than max, AS is (for obvious reasons) not going to do an all bus fleet. 321NEO's can probably do some things max can't but I doubt it's cost-effective to bother keeping a handful around for special missions (airlines which are five times larger have the economy of scale to do that).

Of course if there's a merger/acquisition in the works, all bets are off. The 737's could be sold at a fire sale and the SEA HQ staff would be too busy re-apply for their own jobs in DFW, ATL, NYC, etc to care about All Boeing.

ImperialxRat

I don’t see any mergers coming up in the near future. Management secured their positions by purchasing Virgin, making us just slightly large enough that we are more difficult to acquire.

Delta is a powerhouse that will grow organically, specifically Seattle/West Coast internationals. Southwest is growing organically in Hawaii and will then move on the central/South America.

Neither one needs or wants this disgruntled pilot group merging into their ranks.

ShyGuy

jetBlue tried to buy Virgin so you know they are looking. There still will be more mergers, 6 airlines have yet to merge in some way: Hawaiian, jetBlue, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, and Sun Country. It may take the next economic downturn to trigger a round of mergers.

KnockKnock

You think anyone cares about our contentment? No acquisition/merger would ever take place if the disposition of the pilot group was taken into consideration. You think this is bad? Talk to the pilots that lived/live through the Frankenstein that is U.S. Air/America West/AA/TWA. Or CAL/UAL or DAL/NWA or AT/SWA.....just to name a few disgruntled groups. Yet all those shotgun weddings happened. Money, not feelings, is the only thing that matters.

ImperialxRat

Okay, I,ll rephase it to: Neither one needs or wants to acquire us.

KnockKnock

I agree with you on that.

ShyGuy

We wouldn’t be getting a MAX sim for only 37 MAX aircraft.

KnockKnock

Same email indicates an aircraft order coming. If I was a betting man, I’d say odds favor many Max’s to replace all the Airbus’ and older 737. I’d say somewhere in the range of 101...

Xtreme87

Well, there’s a new trend in Europe, which may just make it’s way over here. Let the struggling airline fail, then pick it’s carcass apart. Seems to be working quite well. We may not see mergers as much anymore.