Route66

PMA? Great attitude. Look in the mirror, that chip on your shoulder is getting bigger.

eaglefly

Could be, but they are stating future new-hires can expect to all go to group II. If they did decide to commit to another GI like the E-195 or CS 100, they'd have to order at least 75-100. I kinda take them at their claim of using A319's and E175's to compete with the competitions GI/II aircraft. It's a risky move IMO though as the regionals contract, eventually even the E175 will fail to lure in pilots and the flow already doesn't sound like a future carrot it's hoped to be. In a few years (when these types of problems are becoming more evident), many pilots will have the choice of going directly to Delta or United flying group I type aircraft with a mainline seniority number that starts working for them on day 1 or AA's wholly-owned regionals where the fly similar aircraft (E175), but only the promise of seniority years down the road, since supposedly most of the AA mainline slots go through the flow via Eagle.

If and when it comes down to many new pilots having a choice of either going right to the majors or LCC's vs. AA's "farm team", AA will be in trouble.........er, actually more trouble. They'll have to figure out something new to staff hundreds upon hundreds of large RJ's no one wants to fly unless they have to which is happening ALREADY. Delta/United CS-series/E-195, LCC's Boeing/Airbus or Eagle's E175 with a promise to flow and get AA seniority in 5 years ?

AA's will get another bronze medal when that situation develops, but so far bronze is apparently the "new" AA's forte by all appearances.

kevin_p

I would agree that getting rid of the E190s would be a good thing if they were adding 20 A319s to replace them. That's not the case, though. All of our narrow body Airbus orders are 321s which means the E190 routes will go to Republic, Mesa, Envoy, etc. if there are a few that go to an A319, then it just means that plane is being pulled off something else

OKLATEX

Just curious, what is the retirement plan for the 757s?

LuckyNow

I'm not sure about the 190 flying going to regionals. The situation hasn't reached the tipping point yet and we are already getting back flying from the regionals in ORD. There are PIT, MCI, DTW (among other) legs on the 737 and that's not something we've had for a long time. If the regionals can't staff the flying now, how will they when the hiring REALLY starts?

Arado 234

* Really * dumb ignorant etc question, but what's the scope clause say? Can we give E190, CS100 flying to the regionals?

eaglefly

For AAG, it will most likely be kick the can by burning the furniture to heat the house, as usual. As their regional pilot staffing ranks evaporate, they'll just continue to park smaller RJ's until ultimately they're only left with 76-seaters maxed out under present scope. That will take several years, but considering the present view looking forward at some point they will get to that benchmark. At that point, their "come to Jesus" moment will arrive and they'll either have to concede market share or come up with a new paradigm to cover that flying, be it mainline or seeking (and paying for) scope relief.

I expect them to fumble the ball by remaining in their reactive mindset instead of being proactive. It's what bronze medalists in a three way race tend to do.

Name User

I don't think you guys are giving management enough credit. I personally feel they know exactly where they stand and what is coming. You may disagree with their management tactic for dealing with the issue, but saying Parker & CO don't understand what they are doing is disingenuous.

Sliceback

319 replaces E190. 737 replaces 319. 321 replaces 737.

The company can add 319's or change gauge as necessary to replace the 190's.

billyho

Yep, just look at what Sam Walton did for Walmart.