FedEx to outsource more capacity
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 2,750
#42
Banned
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 798
I agree that we shouldn't make like ostriches and feel all nice and comfy because of FedEx's past success. On the other hand, the lesson to learn from Pan Am (and Eastern, TWA, Braniff, etc.) is that a company has to continually adjust to the market and remain competitive. Deregulation was the game changer that lead to the demise of those great airlines. I view the changes that we are making as sound, strategic moves to keep us healthy, profitable and competitive.
The impact for the pilot group in the short term is likely more seat shifting, but I don't see 4A2B raising its head again. We may not hire as many as before (see other poster comment on "organic growth"), but we've still got significant numbers of retirements on the horizon which should mean job security for those on the property already. Granted, seat progression may be at a snail's pace, but for me it beats the alternative.
Call me naive, but I don't see black helicopters in this announcement.
The impact for the pilot group in the short term is likely more seat shifting, but I don't see 4A2B raising its head again. We may not hire as many as before (see other poster comment on "organic growth"), but we've still got significant numbers of retirements on the horizon which should mean job security for those on the property already. Granted, seat progression may be at a snail's pace, but for me it beats the alternative.
Call me naive, but I don't see black helicopters in this announcement.
TWA - killed by Icahn
EAL - killed by Lorenzo
Braniff - killed by their "out of the box" thinking, not by a failure to adjust, but by over adjusting
None of these were killed by employees or a failure to adjust. Criminal corporate raiders stealing equity is more to blame.
TWA and EAL didn't do anything significantly different than UAL or DAL, they just got robbed every time they went to the bank.
Pipe
#44
Line Holder
Joined APC: Aug 2006
Position: Between a rock and a hard place
Posts: 92
Don't forget, had it not been for those changes, you and I would still be flying Falcons.
#45
Banned
Joined APC: Mar 2009
Position: 757 Capt
Posts: 798
Hold on, I agree that Lorenzo and Icahn were to blame, but I never suggested that the employees killed their airlines. I lay the blame at the feet of management teams that failed to keep pace with changing regulations and market factors.
Don't forget, had it not been for those changes, you and I would still be flying Falcons.
Don't forget, had it not been for those changes, you and I would still be flying Falcons.
Pipe
#46
You need a history lesson.
TWA - killed by Icahn
EAL - killed by Lorenzo
Braniff - killed by their "out of the box" thinking, not by a failure to adjust, but by over adjusting
None of these were killed by employees or a failure to adjust. Criminal corporate raiders stealing equity is more to blame.
TWA and EAL didn't do anything significantly different than UAL or DAL, they just got robbed every time they went to the bank.
Pipe
TWA - killed by Icahn
EAL - killed by Lorenzo
Braniff - killed by their "out of the box" thinking, not by a failure to adjust, but by over adjusting
None of these were killed by employees or a failure to adjust. Criminal corporate raiders stealing equity is more to blame.
TWA and EAL didn't do anything significantly different than UAL or DAL, they just got robbed every time they went to the bank.
Pipe
My point is, TWA management had not been forward thinking since 1971 or so. It continually shrank it's route structure, bought Hilton Hotels through Trans World Corp, then TWC spun off the airline after milking the cash cow dry. TWA had some of the worst management in US corporate history. Robert Crandall left there to head American through deregulation and did well there in the early 80s.
FedEx has some of the best upper level management in the US. I can't say it will last forever, but if it remains forward looking and politically astute, we've got a good shot.
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