Doesn that article reference "Delta's fleet optimization plan"? I thought that the addition of the 737-900ER was to begin in 2013 also.. Those aircraft are "cash accretive" from the first day according to previous company memo. Also therre are 30 more "fuel efficient" MD-90's that will cut costs too that will occur in 2013.

The "plan" has lots of moving parts... Just because this article doesnt mention other aspects of the fleet optimization plan doesn't mean that those pieces cease to exist.

here I'm going to post the whole article:

The second-largest U.S. airline Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) will introduce 88 The Boeing Company (BA) 717-200 aircraft to its fleet starting next year. Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) will lease the Boeing 717 aircrafts.

The addition of Boeing 717 is the latest step in Delta’s domestic fleet optimization plan, which is targeting $600–$750 million of cost savings over the next year. The new aircraft will enhance the company’s operational efficiency and improve its profitability. The company will take delivery of 16 Boeing 717 in 2013, 36 Boeing 717 in 2014 and the remaining 36 in 2015.

The new jets will replace the older 50-seat inefficient aircrafts and the move would save $150-200 million in non-fuel costs. In addition, Delta Air Lines is expected to save $200-$250 million from maintenance efficiencies and $250-300 million from employee productivity (which includes voluntary early retirement of senior staff).

Further, Delta Air Lines is expanding seating facilities as well as installing winglets and WiFi connectivity in the fleet. The company is moving ahead with the introduction of full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite class, expansion of the First Class cabin on more fleets and increasing Economy Comfort or Economy Plus seats. Moreover, Delta is going wireless with in-flight entertainment system - Delta Connect. These efforts to upgrade fleet products and services are expected to generate an additional revenue of $1 billion by 2013.

Despite these developments, Delta projects non-fuel costs to increase 3–4% in the second quarter due to capacity reduction and higher salaries and wages. However, these increased costs will be partially offset by productivity improvements including the implementation of the LaGuardia slot swap and the new Atlanta international terminal.

From Southwest’s view, leasing of aircraft will be beneficial. Though the transition of Boeing 717 will increase costs by about $50 million, yet Southwest would benefit $200 million in annual pre-tax income once the transition is fully complete.

We are currently maintaining our long-term Neutral recommendation on Delta Air Lines. For the short term, the stock retains a Zacks #2 (Buy) Rank.

I talked with the DALPA Scheduling rep this morning and confirmed what you posted. There was no violation, but it came within 42 minutes of Whitlow, which is consistent with what Crew Tracking told me.

I use Dr. Galaid in Gainesville. Not too far north of 20. Great guy!

Dr. Edward I. Galaid
Northeast Georgia Physical Grp
597 S Enota NE Dr
Gainesville, GA**30501

(770) 718-0707

I have one of those sweet three days (8 pm report, 24 hr layover, all nighter back) that credits 10:30 later this week. Will this now be worth 13:30 with the new average daily credit, and when do we expect our schedule in ICrew to reflect this?

Still worth 10:30. That 4:30 does not go into effect for a few months (I think October).

I thought it went into effect in August 2013? Maybe it's August 2014. Either way, why did we add a 7th for the domestic guys? It could have been possible to negotiate 7 short calls for the international categories and keep it at 6 for the domestic categories. I really hope by the time this happens, I will have the choice of not being reserve. Maybe, we will open a base where I live, then I will have a choice to not commute. Living in base, not doing reserve....that would be the life.

Is this a bad thing? Just asking...

Only if DALPA misjudged it as part of our negotiations.

From the Negotiators Notepad:The seventh short call to which a pilot may be converted in a bid period in which the ALV is 77:00 or higher (reserve guarantee 75:00 or greater) will be effective concurrently with the implementation of the new FARs which reduce the maximum allowable length of a short call to 14 hours.

From the same NNP about the "Average Daily Guarantee": Average Daily Guarantee of 4:30 per calendar day will be effective November 1, 2012.

Denny