They will have to go smaller on those markets. STT was a sea of 757's ten years ago. Now it's all A319's and smaller 737's with the exception of Delta. There is no additional gate space so it has resulted in fewer seats and higher fares. I am not sure that bothers managements.

 

1) Zero chance of BOS (or anything for that matter) in 2024. Flight ops has been ordered to cut costs and opening a base is “too expensive” right now. This doesn’t change the fact that BOS is the best positioned city for a base down the road, but that looks more like 2026 at the moment.

The company is open to VB, but we know that won’t happen.

2) As a BOS guy senior enough to get some of the good DH/layover deals, I’d gladly trade it for the stability of driving to/from work every time.

The reality is the credit from DDH doesn’t usually get me anything extra when ADG drives my pay. DDH on a DH only day one (or last day) is nice.

The long (24+ hours) layovers are almost nonexistent for NB pilots. Some 14+ hour layovers let me get home which helps the family (but usually leads to less sleep).

 

I think we are missing Bob's big picture here. Pre-covid, HE was the one talking about SEA320, BOS320, SLC330, etc. What changed? Covid, obviously. But 2021-present, the issue is training. We have been literally hiring and upgrading to whatever the maximum training capacity permitted. Over the years, Bob has explained why the line changed to 'no new base today, maybe tomorrow'... training capacity. Opening a new base is like adding a new fleet type. It creates more sim sessions + OE so pilots can play musical chairs, but doesn't increase block hours or replace retirements. Post 2020, DL has been racing to restore capacity. Opening a new base/category actually muted their ability to get back to scale/grow. It's more of a long term savings/reliability quotient.

So I do think we will open a BOS base. When? Well, perhaps when we don't have so much training demand paired with network having a more firm idea about fleeting. BOS has equal mainline departures as SEA.. it'll warrant a base inevitably. They just don't see the cost benefit in the present. Perhaps if we see everything stagnate with a quiet school house, it'll be warranted.

 

Don't forget about CVG, opened around 1989(?) at one time they had DC9s, MD88s, 727 and 767/75 based there and even had our MD11s landing there from FRA and LGW. After the NW merger with their big hub in DTW, Cincinnati was redundant and eventually closed.

A long time ago (around 2000) I was at a MCO base meeting where a crew resource guy (David Watson) was yapping about reserve utilization. He said, "If it were up to me there would only be 1 base, ATL, and all reserves would fly 70 hours a month because that's what we're paying them!"

I asked him, "If all the reserves are flying a full month every month, who's going to fly when there's a weather event with diverts and cancellations?"

He said, "That's what green slips are for."

This was when we had a 75hr cap, 6 years before PBS and 92hr lines.

Oh, and David Watson still works here, so if it's up to him I don't think we'll see any new bases anytime soon, at least until after he retires!

 

Don't threaten me with a good time!

 

Ask not if there will be a new base,

ask instead which base will close next.

 

Seattle or SLC?

 

They're building a new training center in SLC so I doubt they'll close that one.

 

Given Delta's track record of retiring planes soon after refurbishing them, SLC makes the most sense to close down.

 

That’s what they want you to think.

(I kid, I kid)