3/7 Newhire Class: Aircraft and Base
 

A big congratulations and welcome to all of those starting class..especially to the Eagle flows hired in the early summer of 2001 who are *finally* coming over.

6 PHL/FO/320/I
25 LGA/FO/320/D
7 MIA/FO/737/D

Just talked to a guy in this class. They changed the PHL 320's to 190's this afternoon.

I'd count on 6 190's per class until they park them.

I'm amazed we haven't seen a new order for 100 seaters-given the pay rates.

It's coming, no doubt in my mind. They are just still in the process of coming up with something to extract from us in exchange for that "shiny carrot."

Don't see it. I just learned we're scoped out on 76 seaters but ALL of the 50 seaters can be swapped for 66 seaters (crj 700s). Expect them to convert a lot of the 50s to 700s and the smallest at mainline will be the 319.

The pilot pay rate is not much of a factor in the decision. It's MUCH cheaper for them to run more, bigger RJs than to expand the mainline fleet. Now replace 319s with group 1s? They may do that. Careful what you wish for.

They will have a huge gap between the 76 seaters and the A319. That is not sustainable when the competition (UA, DL) are both running 100 seaters. AA needs a 100-seater and mark my words, they will use it as a bargaining chip. It's been the same song & dance show for decades and it won't change.

If the 100 seater pay was that of DL 717 I wouldn't be against it. However the E190 second year pay is wAAy too low.
Honestly though DL and UA plan is too fly less commuters and more mainline. I think we can compete if our wholly owned regional aircraft continue to fly 700/900's. In 10 years I can see the only regionals left being AA wholly owned and maybe a couple others. I bet DL will have cut their regional flying in half with all the 100 sweaters they are buying for ML.
I could be wrong though.

Hard for me to tell which way this will go. We do have a lot of old airbuses which could continue flying-but that does leave a pretty big gap in seat capacity. I think if mgmt were smart, they would jump on some super-efficient C-series planes and take advantage of the fuel savings and the low pay rate. Of course, I have come to the conclusion that this mgmt. doesn't give a crap about the long-term health of the airline.

Doug and his buds just want to spend all our profits on stock buy backs that never work-but who cares, when your make millions on the 20 cents per share jump that 10 billion in buybacks gets?

I've stayed optimistic about mgmt as long as I can... But these guys are awful. They simply must be replaced. These buybacks are incredibly irresponsible and just put our airline in a continually weaker position.