Alaska Air Hiring
#7611
Line Holder
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,627
Likes: 143
Thank you! Another question: I assume AK is pretty committed to SFO as a base? I get that the closure of all Bus bases and the retirement of the entire Bus fleet was a one-time thing that everyone kinda saw coming for quite some time, but it's not often that a major carrier fully retires a fleet type and closes multiple bases. Given AK's apparently more cautious growth pace than other carriers (UA, SWA all have very aggressive plans) — is it safe to say that SFO/737 will likely be a thing at AK for years to come? I realize this is the airline industry and plans can change in a heartbeat, but just curious as to the level of confidence that SFO will remain a growing base (or just a base at all) for the foreseeable future....
the only constant is change.
#7613
Domestic only PAE 787 base by early 2025. OTZ back me up here.
#7614
On Reserve
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 117
Likes: 11
#7615
On Reserve
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 124
Likes: 31
OTZ is busy converting his bitcoin assets to Hawaiian stock. Easy money. Hawaiian is trading around $5/share. Alaska will buy it for $10.
#7616
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
OTZ last year stated that we’d see a merger by NOV. Since November was fast approaching we decided to give OTZ another year and went with NOV 2023.
Last edited by G650guy; 10-19-2023 at 03:05 PM. Reason: Typo
#7617
Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,847
Likes: 653
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Question though -- with all the ex-Bus guys transitioning to the 73, might that not change the equation? I imagine a bunch of senior Bus FOs would be upgrading to SFO 737 CA, and thereby pushing the upgrade time up quite a bit. No? Without access to the standing bid list I have no clue, alas...
There will always be occasional senior FO's upgrading at any airline, but if there was a big surge from the VX side it already happened.
That said, I don't think SWA upgrade is still ten years, I think it's coming down. But ask somebody there.
Also consider retirement pace, as a % of pilot group size. Those numbers are on the APC Airline Profiles. AS/SW are similar in that regard, maybe slightly more at AS.
#7618
Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,847
Likes: 653
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
717's (technically Boeings) re-based in SEA for inter-island flying, with ferry tanks for first and last leg.
#7619
Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 44,847
Likes: 653
From: Engines Turn or People Swim
Thank you! Another question: I assume AK is pretty committed to SFO as a base? I get that the closure of all Bus bases and the retirement of the entire Bus fleet was a one-time thing that everyone kinda saw coming for quite some time, but it's not often that a major carrier fully retires a fleet type and closes multiple bases. Given AK's apparently more cautious growth pace than other carriers (UA, SWA all have very aggressive plans) — is it safe to say that SFO/737 will likely be a thing at AK for years to come? I realize this is the airline industry and plans can change in a heartbeat, but just curious as to the level of confidence that SFO will remain a growing base (or just a base at all) for the foreseeable future....
Alternatively, the most logical end-game for an MBA would be AS acquired by UA...
- Heavy west-coast domestic capacity to complement UA's international.
- Solution for UA scope-limited UAX feed.
- No significant overlap besides SFO (everybody is in LAX, so that's a wash).
- Dilutes UA pilot retirements.
But to get that by the trust-busters would require a regime change in DC. If the-one-who-shall-not-be-mentioned were to return, I'd consider UA/AS a very real possibility.
Otherwise AS might buy HA on the cheap, if nothing else as a defensive move. That will only be good for pilots if they actually retain their newly acquired expansion, as opposed to retreating back to SEATAC like the last two mergers.
#7620
Thank you! Another question: I assume AK is pretty committed to SFO as a base? I get that the closure of all Bus bases and the retirement of the entire Bus fleet was a one-time thing that everyone kinda saw coming for quite some time, but it's not often that a major carrier fully retires a fleet type and closes multiple bases. Given AK's apparently more cautious growth pace than other carriers (UA, SWA all have very aggressive plans) — is it safe to say that SFO/737 will likely be a thing at AK for years to come? I realize this is the airline industry and plans can change in a heartbeat, but just curious as to the level of confidence that SFO will remain a growing base (or just a base at all) for the foreseeable future....
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