AKpilot

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.

AKpilot

Baring any global issues that inhibit travel, (wars , SARS, Swine flu etc.) I am fairly optimistic about the merger. I think the price was a bit High, but time will tell if it was the right decision. Also I think senior AS pilots should be fairly insulated from any SLI issues. The AS Apr 5 2016 seniority list shows 1757 pilots total, 1189 were hired before before August 8 2007 when VX started ops. (not sure what the official VX hire date is.) according to the APC VX profile there are 630 VX pilots. The JR AS Capt is #1177 (9 years).

Welcome VX folks.

Virgin fans may fret, but Alaska Airlines deal will benefit many on West Coast | The Seattle Times

svergin

Its more than $4B to buy Virgin America because of the debt that was assumed.

"Under the deal, Alaska Air will pay $57 in cash per Virgin share. Virgin closed Friday at $38.90. The companies described the entire value of the deal at about $4 billion, including debt and aircraft leases."

Estimated Total Cost for Virgin America at $4B

This under no circumstances seems like a good deal. What did they pay for exactly? This sounds like they are trying to spin a stupid decision into something beneficial.

Xtreme87

My money is on JB buying their order book and some airplanes.

AKpilot

I can't argue your statement. Right now I'm a skeptic optimist. Maybe Jet Blue just kicked our ass at the auction house. Those bean counters are smarter than me when it comes to finance. It is what it is. They didn't ask any of us our opinions. They have done a good job so far. I have to trust them for now. There is nothing I can do about it. I just move the metal. They sign the checks.

ASpilot0936

You assume that the SLI will be based on DOH only. No way will VA pilots just lay down & go for that. Their #1 guy will be looking for a top spot on our list.

I still can't see us running airbuses. What happened to the single fleet concept that they were preaching years ago? It's a big reason why we're making money right now. Now it's completely out the window?? It wouldn't surprise me if they parked the 6 jets that VA actually owns and somehow negotiate the return of the leased jets.

AKpilot

I think it's a little early to start freaking out about what's going to happen. The Airbus is a good plane. It's not the MD-80. It could work. Let the process begin. It does not matter what the #1 VX guy wants. It's up to the merger committees and the lawyers and the arbitrators.
It's out of our control right now. Relax we are along for the ride. I learned a long time ago there are no guarantees or fairness in this business.

Klsytakesit

We need to start pushing for a resolution that will place the Virgin dudes on our payscale the day we get the keys tothe airline......No reason for them not to be......We have got to start strengthening the whole group....our 1600 and their 700 to fight for the 2018 contract....We need to rapidly scoop them up and prepare for what is truly important.....

donwonton

I don't think the 2018 contract negotiations exist anymore, with the merger process one of the first things is a Joint CBA (JCBA). There will be a new contract that covers everyone real soon.

ASpilot0936

Negative.

There isn't going to be a joint anything. VA doesn't have a CBA so there's nothing to join....

Contract 2018 should still be in the works, unless the MEC blows it off......