Sai 737 loa
08-13-2013, 03:35 PM
#152
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777, sofa
Posts: 1,183
August 13, 2013
All Southern Air Employees:
I am pleased to report that Southern Air has won the bid for 737 flying with DHL and today executed a letter of intent to enter into a long-term agreement with DHL to operate this aircraft type. Our LOI with DHL contemplates operation of an initial fleet of five 737-400s in DHL’s North and South American Networks, and additional 737-400 aircrafts to be added over the next 2-3 years.
This opportunity with DHL opens an entirely new chapter for Southern Air and clearly demonstrates how much DHL values Southern Air -- for our proven ability to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of global trade. We listen to our customer, analyze and respond quickly and comprehensively to their needs, and then we execute. We have done this repeatedly over the past three years with the on-boarding of the 777s for DHL, our comprehensive re-fleeting, the exceptionally fast financial restructuring and our move to CVG. These accomplishments are the reason we have been able to reposition Southern Air and provide ongoing job and career opportunities for all our employees. The 737-400 US-based flying for DHL represents a significant step forward for our company.
Recently our pilots approved a Tentative Agreement (TA) for the operation of 737 aircraft. This vote of confidence from our crew group paves the way for us to bring back pilots from furlough. The TA was a key component of our competitive bid package to DHL, and I want to thank our crew and pilot union for their prompt and supportive work with management on this agreement. We had to respond to DHL’s bid request in a highly compressed timeframe, which meant that we needed to complete a comprehensive and competitive bid package in a very short period of time. I am especially thankful to our team in Florence who worked night and day for 3 weeks to ensure that we had a viable and competitive response. Indeed, as with all of our successes, Southern Air won this bid because of the efforts of our entire Southern Air team.
Concurrently, we have worked closely with DHL Aviation to identify sources of 737 aircraft for long-term lease, which, with our recent exit from restructuring, will be difficult but not impossible. We will introduce the first 737 by March 2014, requiring us to be flexible and effective as we tackle the necessary steps to meet this goal. Once we secure the aircraft, we will begin the freighter conversion process and work to certify and add the aircraft to our OpSpecs and train our crew.
Today’s 737-400 bid award from DHL gives Southern Air an enviable competitive advantage in our market. Diversifying our operation through the addition of 737s with DHL will allow us to strengthen our financial platform as we grow our business and our position in the air cargo industry. However, we still have a lot of work to do in order to on-board this aircraft type and commence operations for DHL by early next year. At the same time, we must continue to be flexible and open to other opportunities that the changing marketplace presents.
We will continue to keep you updated as this expansion moves forward. Please continue to keep safety at the forefront of all that we do. The health and safety of our crew, employees, customers and communities we serve remains our highest priority.
Thanks,
Dan McHugh
President & CEO
Southern Air Inc.
All Southern Air Employees:
I am pleased to report that Southern Air has won the bid for 737 flying with DHL and today executed a letter of intent to enter into a long-term agreement with DHL to operate this aircraft type. Our LOI with DHL contemplates operation of an initial fleet of five 737-400s in DHL’s North and South American Networks, and additional 737-400 aircrafts to be added over the next 2-3 years.
This opportunity with DHL opens an entirely new chapter for Southern Air and clearly demonstrates how much DHL values Southern Air -- for our proven ability to respond to the ever-changing dynamics of global trade. We listen to our customer, analyze and respond quickly and comprehensively to their needs, and then we execute. We have done this repeatedly over the past three years with the on-boarding of the 777s for DHL, our comprehensive re-fleeting, the exceptionally fast financial restructuring and our move to CVG. These accomplishments are the reason we have been able to reposition Southern Air and provide ongoing job and career opportunities for all our employees. The 737-400 US-based flying for DHL represents a significant step forward for our company.
Recently our pilots approved a Tentative Agreement (TA) for the operation of 737 aircraft. This vote of confidence from our crew group paves the way for us to bring back pilots from furlough. The TA was a key component of our competitive bid package to DHL, and I want to thank our crew and pilot union for their prompt and supportive work with management on this agreement. We had to respond to DHL’s bid request in a highly compressed timeframe, which meant that we needed to complete a comprehensive and competitive bid package in a very short period of time. I am especially thankful to our team in Florence who worked night and day for 3 weeks to ensure that we had a viable and competitive response. Indeed, as with all of our successes, Southern Air won this bid because of the efforts of our entire Southern Air team.
Concurrently, we have worked closely with DHL Aviation to identify sources of 737 aircraft for long-term lease, which, with our recent exit from restructuring, will be difficult but not impossible. We will introduce the first 737 by March 2014, requiring us to be flexible and effective as we tackle the necessary steps to meet this goal. Once we secure the aircraft, we will begin the freighter conversion process and work to certify and add the aircraft to our OpSpecs and train our crew.
Today’s 737-400 bid award from DHL gives Southern Air an enviable competitive advantage in our market. Diversifying our operation through the addition of 737s with DHL will allow us to strengthen our financial platform as we grow our business and our position in the air cargo industry. However, we still have a lot of work to do in order to on-board this aircraft type and commence operations for DHL by early next year. At the same time, we must continue to be flexible and open to other opportunities that the changing marketplace presents.
We will continue to keep you updated as this expansion moves forward. Please continue to keep safety at the forefront of all that we do. The health and safety of our crew, employees, customers and communities we serve remains our highest priority.
Thanks,
Dan McHugh
President & CEO
Southern Air Inc.
08-14-2013, 04:18 AM
#154
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 33
five 737-400s in DHL’s North and South American Networks
Strange- South America was never mentioned in any of the press releases (as I recall)
The commute+crashpad to South America sure is gonna sting
They will get more planes and grow and will have more leverage to get pay raises and changes to the contract in 3 or 4 years. Hardy Har Har!!!
They got you guys by the balls. Good Luck.. Snip,Snip...
Strange- South America was never mentioned in any of the press releases (as I recall)
The commute+crashpad to South America sure is gonna sting
They will get more planes and grow and will have more leverage to get pay raises and changes to the contract in 3 or 4 years. Hardy Har Har!!!
They got you guys by the balls. Good Luck.. Snip,Snip...
08-14-2013, 05:16 AM
#155
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 597
There was talk of Central America (I would assume GUA/SJO/etc) in the ATI LOA talk.
08-14-2013, 12:18 PM
#156
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 75
You would think that the Union would one day wake up, and when requested to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement prior to negotiations with the company, they would just say NO!
See, that Non Disclosure Agreement makes them all feel special because now they have secrets to keep!
It could be construed that two parties that keep mutual secrets are in collusion with each other.
Go figure!
08-15-2013, 12:45 PM
#158
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: 777, sofa
Posts: 1,183
The South America flying had been mentioned before, in one of McHugh's notes I think, but as SOO obtaining aircraft using DHL's credit, and then dry leasing the aircraft to another DHL operator. SOO operating 737s in South America is a brand new wrinkle.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
