Alaska / Virgin
04-07-2016 | 12:26 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 427
Likes: 0
From: LAMA/P180/747
Interesting take from Branson:
Exclusive: Richard Branson Says He Won't Let Virgin America Die - Condé Nast Traveler
Exclusive: Richard Branson Says He Won't Let Virgin America Die - Condé Nast Traveler
04-07-2016 | 04:53 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: a cushy one with a forward facing window
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.
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.
04-07-2016 | 08:51 AM
#24
UCH Pilot
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: 787
Interesting take from Branson:
Exclusive: Richard Branson Says He Won't Let Virgin America Die - Condé Nast Traveler
Exclusive: Richard Branson Says He Won't Let Virgin America Die - Condé Nast Traveler
"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".
Last edited by svergin; 04-07-2016 at 08:52 AM. Reason: It didn't like the use of ***
04-07-2016 | 11:40 AM
#25
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 972
Likes: 1
Thus, a “merger” is defined as a situation where there is a reasonable probability of sufficient operational integration between or among two or more ALPA airlines that there is or will be a need for an integrated seniority list, a JCBA and a merged MEC to adequately protect the employment interests of the flight deck crew members.
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!
04-07-2016 | 11:42 AM
#26
Line Holder
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 972
Likes: 1
04-07-2016 | 12:44 PM
#27
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
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".
"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".
04-07-2016 | 01:31 PM
#28
New Hire
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
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!
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!
04-07-2016 | 01:47 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
From: Right Seat 737, Front seat T-6
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..
I think the welcoming atmosphere is, and will continue to be, sincere.
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