That is like saying there aren't captains taking planes with inop APU's in DFW and the northeast right now.....

 

I think a lot of people are overlooking the basics. AA is still digging its way out of its debt hole from the preCOVID fleet renewal. Total debt is currently $38 Billion (https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-t...gs-transcript/) vs United total debt of $27 Billion for United (https://ir.united.com/static-files/e...d-86c244320239)and $16.3 billion for DL (https://ir.delta.com/news/news-detai...s/default.aspx).

Servicing an extra $10 or 20 BILLION dollars in debt is ABSOLUTELY gonna take a bite out of your profit, even if all other factors were the same. It’s as much as a billion dollars reduction in annual profit.

 

While this is true, what makes this double whammy of a gut punch is Delta and United are doing their fleet renewal through cash and still raking in the profits. So no increased debt as they take on new planes and still kicking our butt financially. Granted a downturn may change their paying cash for the new planes plan and take on debt, but they are in a good position to do so.

I am skeptical of United's growth marketing of how every plane on the books is growth vs replacement, but even if that changes and most of the planes turn from growth to replacement, United won't be hampered like we are with their fleet renewal.

 

can’t say they’re not trying. Growth in passenger revenue per available seat led all network peers for the 4th straight quarter (coinciding with the corporate travel strategy flip flop). Long hill to climb but at least they’re focusing on the right stuff (now).

 

To me it all screams reactionary.

During the domestic travel boom following COVID, they try to appeal to the low cost customers. Make the service as cheap as possible in order to offer the lowest price possible. Now the money is in the premium market, they now react to that. By the time we actually dig out of the hole to get money from the premium side of the business, bet that will start to weaken like domestic travel has.

AA is a rudderless ship with no vision, taking it where ever the wind blows. But since it is such a big ship with small sails, it takes the wind forever to get it to change direction and gain momentum. So by the time that happens, that wind dies.

Unlike what WiFi will accuse me of, I still care. I do my best with the resources I have been given. Want me to SET more? Give me more MAX's. I have SET the NG's and according to the CEFA app, it barely makes a dent given how long and how high I need to keep the running engine at to get moving or accelerate up hill. I want us to succeed and haven't given up. But that is how I see AA right now under current management.

I am not sold on how Kirby is viewed. I still see United's success as mostly Oscar's credit. Kirby is just good enough to take what Oscar gave him to keep it going. I am not confident that Kirby would have made AA a financial powerhouse if he was chosen over Isom. He would maintain course here just like he has maintained course at UAL.

 

So when do we start telling people to go to United or Delta again? Or better yet, when do the several new threads asking for career advice jumping from AA to another legacy come back?

 

Every quarter the same guys on APC act like this is some big surprise. It's been like this since I've been here. I do what I can on the line to make things as good as they can be for the crew, the pax, and the operation (in that order). Beyond that I have no control, so why get my heart rate up over it?

 

Exactly.

The failure to expand or maintain a competitive international presence was solidified in 2019/2020. They need revenue today. We could place a historic widebody order today and still lose money for years. They've got to slow the leak before they start adding more water to the pool. Any improvement in international presence/revenue in the short term will have to come from the XLR, 787 deliveries, and 777 refurbishments.

 

I’ve had three flights this week that have delayed boarding because the APU was shutdown on a short turn.

 

Sadly this occurs commonly. Anyone who says it doesn't is clearly not a line pilot.