|
Originally Posted by gloopy
(Post 2836696)
Right. We're running a tight ship, but its also during the absolute easiest time in the history of the industry (including the much ballyhooed regulation era) where the difference between absolute genius and complete incompetent management teams is merely a matter of how many billions in profit you're making ATM.
You could literally pull someone out of a phone book and make them CEO and whisper to them "just sit back, relax, **** and don't touch anything and here's your 8 figure salary" and run a profitable airline in almost every casen in this economic environment. The floor of the performance envelope right now is merely one of less profits but still mad profits in all but the train wreckiest of examples. As for the product, its good but could be better. Not one jetbridge without awesome air and not one station without adequate tugs and towbars. FC meals need improving IMO and we're not where we need to be WRT reliable connectivity and IFE. More work needs to be done with the boarding process. D-0/door closed early needs to be more balanced than it is. And short sleeves with ties makes ppl wonder why their plane is being piloted by computer programmers from the 70s. Ed did inherit a well oiled machine from Richard. We all agree about that. But Ed has shown great skill in running the Big D and I only shudder to think where we’d be with Parker or Munoz. Delta is kicking ass because Delta is run by a great team... not because they’re running on cruise control. |
Originally Posted by Tailhookah
(Post 2842311)
Pilots are the best CEO’s.... riiiight. One thing I’ve learned is to not take any business advice from pilots. And I’ll not ever expect to get any flying skill advice from Ed.
Ed did inherit a well oiled machine from Richard. We all agree about that. But Ed has shown great skill in running the Big D and I only shudder to think where we’d be with Parker or Munoz. Delta is kicking ass because Delta is run by a great team... not because they’re running on cruise control. |
Originally Posted by Gooner
(Post 2842355)
True, but that does not excuse the unbelievable amount of capital that has been burned on questionable buybacks. We operate in an extremely capital intensive business, a billion goes along way to solve lots of problems. Not sure we’ve solved many by spending +$5billion on buying stock, unless it comes to overcompensating a very small group of employees.
|
Originally Posted by Tailhookah
(Post 2842311)
Pilots are the best CEO’s.... riiiight. One thing I’ve learned is to not take any business advice from pilots. And I’ll not ever expect to get any flying skill advice from Ed.
Ed did inherit a well oiled machine from Richard. We all agree about that. But Ed has shown great skill in running the Big D and I only shudder to think where we’d be with Parker or Munoz. Delta is kicking ass because Delta is run by a great team... not because they’re running on cruise control. I agree that other management teams would be making less money than ours in almost every case. But they'd still be making a ton of money, including a random CEO lottery where anyone sitting at CE's desk with an unplugged phone and the door locked would still be "running" a profitable company (just not as profitable). We're making hay while the sun shines and that's great; the sun has never shined as bright on this industry ever, and odds are overwhelming that it won't last forever. When it changes, and it will, airlines will rue the day they burnt back billions instead of saving for the next rainy decade. But as Jerry Seinfeld says, "that's tomorrow guy's problem". |
Originally Posted by gloopy
(Post 2842450)
I agree and that's not what I said. I didn't say that anyone could produce the exact same numbers. Only that this is, by far, and I mean to an extent the likes of which we've never seen in this industry or even credibly anticipated until it happened, the best time to be in this industry including running airlines at this current time.
I agree that other management teams would be making less money than ours in almost every case. But they'd still be making a ton of money, including a random CEO lottery where anyone sitting at CE's desk with an unplugged phone and the door locked would still be "running" a profitable company (just not as profitable). We're making hay while the sun shines and that's great; the sun has never shined as bright on this industry ever, and odds are overwhelming that it won't last forever. When it changes, and it will, airlines will rue the day they burnt back billions instead of saving for the next rainy decade. But as Jerry Seinfeld says, "that's tomorrow guy's problem". |
Originally Posted by OOfff
(Post 2842475)
You can’t really “save” a bunch of billions without becoming an acquisition target.
|
They have been doing the buying. The industry leader is rarely the subject of a hostile takeover. I currently can’t recall one outside of a reorganization. We are packaging the Partners for a global widget brand IMO.
|
One person we don’t hear from often is our rep on the BOD. Or do we? I don’t often hear any reports from that individual in the usual Union communications. It would be interesting to hear his “inside” perspective. Although I imagine those meetings going something like this;
“Hey, Mr. Union Rep, we’ll be right back” |
Originally Posted by mispoken
(Post 2842655)
One person we don’t hear from often is our rep on the BOD. Or do we? I don’t often hear any reports from that individual in the usual Union communications. It would be interesting to hear his “inside” perspective. Although I imagine those meetings going something like this;
“Hey, Mr. Union Rep, we’ll be right back” I think his value is indirect to us regular pilot folk, but having a seat at the table (when he actually has one) doesn't hurt. |
Originally Posted by OOfff
(Post 2842475)
You can’t really “save” a bunch of billions without becoming an acquisition target.
Gates and Aircraft don't really count because you always have to have those. So quoting how many "billions" are spent on those while burning other billions doesn't mean balance has been achieved. If the purpose is to get the money off the books so some corporate raider scum can't use it against us, there's still better ways to do that in many cases. |
Originally Posted by TED74
(Post 2842665)
If 14,500 pilots could pinky swear not to repeat what they heard from this single board member, we might get to hear some interesting perspective. I'd bet the MEC gets more from him than we do, and that's fine with me. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect to hear anything from this lone board member other than what the board in totality wants the public to know.
I think his value is indirect to us regular pilot folk, but having a seat at the table (when he actually has one) doesn't hurt. |
Originally Posted by TED74
(Post 2842665)
If 14,500 pilots could pinky swear not to repeat what they heard from this single board member, we might get to hear some interesting perspective. I'd bet the MEC gets more from him than we do, and that's fine with me. Otherwise, I wouldn't expect to hear anything from this lone board member other than what the board in totality wants the public to know.
I think his value is indirect to us regular pilot folk, but having a seat at the table (when he actually has one) doesn't hurt. |
Chris is a great guy and very pro-pilot. If you reach out to him he will answer what he can.
|
They could just give it to me. Ill keep it safe for them. :)
|
Originally Posted by mispoken
(Post 2842713)
I don’t think that is the idea behind a public company. If you want everything secret, then you stay private. Either way, it’s not so much “trade secrets” I’d be interested to hear but more perspective from someone “sharing the table”.
|
Originally Posted by OOfff
(Post 2842475)
You can’t really “save” a bunch of billions without becoming an acquisition target.
Denny |
Originally Posted by Denny Crane
(Post 2842870)
I won’t dispute that but how do companies do it any way? Apple for example.
Denny |
Originally Posted by ChecklistMonkey
(Post 2842846)
That isn't at all how business works. Yet another example of not taking advice from pilots.
My point was that a public company goes public in order to have access to public funds. In doing so they’re subject to disclosure laws and have to maintain a degree of transparency and that if a company doesn’t want to be subject to, can stay private. When someone above mentioned that 14,500 pilots have to keep a secret in order for information, my point was that I wasn’t looking for trade secrets (I doubt our rep is privy to them anyhow) or insider information but more perspective. So tell me, how does “business” work? There are many ways a business works and what we are talking about is a public massive corporate business, perhaps you have some background in corporate law and governance? |
Originally Posted by OOfff
(Post 2842893)
Yeah I’m no expert and was corrected above, but I don’t think there are a lot of places with a trillion dollars to throw around. DL is worth 3% of that.
Apple market cap: $910B Delta market cap: $37B Berkshire Hathaway has been mentioned as a potential acquirer of Delta. They have about $112B in cash. They already own a piece of each. 10% of Delta and 5% of Apple. They could easily acquire all of Delta. Not Apple. |
If Berkshire Hathaway were to fully acquire us stock buybacks would cease thus making some people happy on this forum. Ironically, our excess cash would go directly to Berkshire Hathaway thus making owners of Berkshire Hathaway stock happy.
|
Honest question, not trying to pick a fight with those that hate the buybacks, just trying to understand their position better.
Would you feel differently about it if the money had been paid out as regular or special dividends instead of used for share buybacks? |
The only acceptable use of cash is buying 787s for Delta pilots to fly!!!! Am I right?
|
Originally Posted by Dash8Pilot
(Post 2843033)
Honest question, not trying to pick a fight with those that hate the buybacks, just trying to understand their position better.
Would you feel differently about it if the money had been paid out as regular or special dividends instead of used for share buybacks? I think I’d rather see them gamble with investments in more diverse companies. Imagine what $5billion over five years could have bought us in tech startups that may even fill some tech gaps. The main positive of buybacks is that they have little ability to say they don’t have the money when we ask for a raise. |
With a $5B investment, we could post a credit card salesperson at every gate and maybe even have a few working the security lines!
|
Originally Posted by TED74
(Post 2843809)
With a $5B investment, we could post a credit card salesperson at every gate and maybe even have a few working the security lines!
Oops. I just made this political. Sorry, Mods. |
Originally Posted by DWC CAP10 USAF
(Post 2842369)
Warren buffet didn’t think the buyback was questionable...in fact he said he was impressed that they borrowed money to enable a larger buyback.
|
Originally Posted by notEnuf
(Post 2842534)
They have been doing the buying. The industry leader is rarely the subject of a hostile takeover. I currently can’t recall one outside of a reorganization. We are packaging the Partners for a global widget brand IMO.
It's the obvious step in the cycle. National consolidation has taken place and there is no farther to take it. Just got to get rid of a few pesky laws and Skyteam International here we come. |
Originally Posted by JamesBond
(Post 2844120)
^^^^^ this right here ^^^^^^^
It's the obvious step in the cycle. National consolidation has taken place and there is no farther to take it. Just got to get rid of a few pesky laws and Skyteam International here we come. |
Originally Posted by Mesabah
(Post 2844198)
Obviously that has always been the goal of the partner networks. If there is any type of carbon trading system implemented between nations, it will make it happen in short order.
|
Originally Posted by m3113n1a1
(Post 2844205)
It's going to happen eventually. Globalization is unstoppable. The world is so interconnected these days and getting more, and more so. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing though
You better stand the **** by for a yuge awakening. It ain't gonna be good. |
You all happy with the realignment of the Fidelity 401 choices. Lost the REIT, which has been doing well. I believe many companies have been streamlining the plans, probably to save $$.
|
Originally Posted by Hank Kingsley
(Post 2847492)
You all happy with the realignment of the Fidelity 401 choices. Lost the REIT, which has been doing well. I believe many companies have been streamlining the plans, probably to save $$.
|
I'm happy with the index funds on Fidelity. My 401k is entirely made up of the index funds. They are extremely low cost. I think the s&p fund is a 0.01% expense ratio.
|
Originally Posted by m3113n1a1
(Post 2847824)
I'm happy with the index funds on Fidelity. My 401k is entirely made up of the index funds. They are extremely low cost. I think the s&p fund is a 0.01% expense ratio.
|
Except delta stock
|
Reviving this thread just cause I’m curious if anyone else has been watching our stock prices drop and been wondering what management is thinking of their buyback move now.
|
Originally Posted by WakeWash
(Post 2869967)
Reviving this thread just cause I’m curious if anyone else has been watching our stock prices drop and been wondering what management is thinking of their buyback move now.
|
Originally Posted by WakeWash
(Post 2869967)
Reviving this thread just cause I’m curious if anyone else has been watching our stock prices drop and been wondering what management is thinking of their buyback move now.
|
Originally Posted by WakeWash
(Post 2869967)
Reviving this thread just cause I’m curious if anyone else has been watching our stock prices drop and been wondering what management is thinking of their buyback move now.
Since the stock isn’t wildly outside of the general market trend, probably not |
Originally Posted by WakeWash
(Post 2869967)
Reviving this thread just cause I’m curious if anyone else has been watching our stock prices drop and been wondering what management is thinking of their buyback move now.
|
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:44 AM. |
Website Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands