Originally Posted by AKpilot (Post 2103114)

Video interview from the CEO's

Alaska Air to buy Virgin America for $57 a share

We are both good companies. I look forward to a positive outcome for both groups.

The AS mgt group has been very successful at building a very good and profitable operation. They are financially conservative. Brad Tilden has been with the company for a long time. He rose up through the finance dept and was the CFO. He is very smart and knows the value of employee harmony. He is well liked and respected throughout the company. He is a bean counter with great people skills. I have been through several management cycles here and so far these guys have done very well. The CFO and COO are also very smart. The flight ops management and training team are also very good. All of Alaska's ratings and awards prove this.
VX also has great ratings. So they must be doing something right.

I have been with several other airlines in the 80's and early 90's so I have some experience to compare. There were times in the 90's I thought about going somewhere else but I'm glad I didn't.

The only negative I've seen lately is the QX contract. I think The QX folks should have been treated better.

I would be concerned if B6 won out and had a sudden huge presence on the west coast. Even if AS announced a 2.5 billion dollar Aircraft purchase instead of an acquisition we would not see any planes anytime soon due to delivery times and we would be competing with DL AND B6/VX combo. Is this a great deal? I don't think so. But strategically I hope it is the smart one.

I think AS will continue to hire pilots. We have retirements and A/C deliveries. I don't think there will be any flight crew furloughs. Experienced pilots are at a premium these days and AS flt mgt knows it.

There is no use worrying about things you can't control. It's a business and we just move the metal.

Welcome VX folks we have a pretty good team. I look forward to a positive outcome for all.

btw I would love to fly the Bus. Nice plane.
my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by NoJoy (Post 2104903)

Interesting take from Branson:

Exclusive: Richard Branson Says He Won't Let Virgin America Die - Condé Nast Traveler

Originally Posted by donwonton (Post 2104375)

I can't find where it says that.

https://crewroom.alpa.org/ual/Deskto...cumentID=45274

Originally Posted by atpcliff (Post 2104737)

Financial news said all VA pilots will be brought up to AK contract. Airbus leases run out 2020, and AK not sure if they will keep or jettison and replace with 737s...

Originally Posted by svergin (Post 2105138)

The two most telling quotes in the article...

"Alaska executives have been quoted since the merger announcement as saying they will "study" the Virgin operation, but have yet to decide whether to keep the carrier's fleet and its unique brand."

"The Virgin Group founder insists he's committed to making the merger work, but is prepared to launch a new airline if Alaska doesn't protect the Virgin brand. The brand licensing reverts to him."

So basically Alaska bought Virgin and might not keep the planes or the brand that it bought. And if it doesn't use the Virgin brand, Branson is going to come start another Airbus flown Virgin America and re-take its loyal customer base.

Branson gets out of $1.5B in debts, gets $2.6B in cash, and is going to do it all over again because he "likes starting things".

Originally Posted by BlueJetDork (Post 2105287)

No dog in this fight. All I read is the AS CEO dancing around what is going to happen to VX.

This transaction does not feel like a merger of operations. It feels like 80 year old Grandma just hooked up with a teenaged metrosexual and we all know that is not going to last.

VX works at a significant discount to an Alaska pilot. Forget about base pay the other sections of the contract cost huge dollars and VX is not even in off the freeway to the same ballpark.

Plus they have zero LPP and are essentially at will (i.e. no contractual seniority).

I have buds at both and I sincerely hope the best.

Good luck everyone!

Originally Posted by busbusbaby (Post 2104955)

Greetings from a VA captain, Glad to see the welcoming attitude, look forward to flying with great people. I went through a merger at my last airline and there was no welcoming atmosphere like there really seems to be at AS, hopefully one day we can share a cold sudsy one cheers..

Originally Posted by donwonton (Post 2105380)

They're going to a Single Operating Certificate, repainting the planes, integrating the pilot lists and there will be a Joint CBA before 2018.