Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 646538)

Half teasing

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 646538)

Half teasing

Originally Posted by slowplay (Post 646297)

Why don't you take us through the scenario of where either Delta or NWA pilots would have been absent the merger.

Strong words, but they need to be spoken. You would have been one that would have been bumped off of all three absent the merger. In fact, at your juniority, you may (probably) have been looking at unemployment. Same is true with your peer from the Northside. A 20% revenue reduction, with an astounding premium traffic reduction to the Pacific, cargo collapse, and European collapse would have been far more difficult for either carrier as a standalone. There wouldn't have been $2 billion from Amex in the bank. Look at our cash balance minus that. The merger produced that additional protection.

You should "take a serious look at it" before posting what I view as a short sighted post. "We always say passengers have short memories. We do to."

Results matter. Look where your feet are standing, not where you "wish" they would be. My comments here aren't meant to be offensive. I am frustrated by what I view is a revision of history and a shallow treatment of our situation.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 646503)

So what happens when the airline that owns us runs out of money?

Air France KLM may face cash challenge next year
July 17, 2009

A study of Air France KLM found that the airline will run out of cash next year if oil prices continue to climb and passenger traffic numbers do not improve, Reuters reported.

Citing a news report in Les Echos, the article said that a worst-case scenario would involve Air France KLM posting a wider loss in 2009-2010 than the $182 million loss posted the previous year. If the case, the airline would be short of cash within the year.

According to the study, another, more realistic scenario involves a sales drop of 9% with oil remaining at or around a $58 a barrel. Air France revealed this scenario as a target in May, the article said.

Ideally, Air France KLM hopes for a smaller 4% drop in sales and oil prices around $61 a barrel. Such a scenario would allow the carrier to reduce its loss and finance new investments. This scenario, however, is unlikely given air traffic drops in May and June, the article said.

Air France KLM said a statement Friday that the carrier’s “financial position is, and will remain, extremely healthy in the coming years.”
The Franco-Dutch group’s had some 4.5 billion euros (about $6.5 billion USD) in cash on June 30, “to which are added 1.2 billion euros in available credit lines, making a total of 5.7 billion euros following the recent, highly successful, 660 million euro convertible bond issue,” the statement said. “Annual debt repayment commitments are limited, and, moreover, the group has almost 40 unencumbered aircraft which can be refinanced at any time.”

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 646600)

Its just a matter of time boys. We'll all be wearing "World Alliance" beanies in the near future. And you thought the Delta hats were stupid. :p

Originally Posted by beer (Post 646606)

Ok..so here is a stupid question. If AF/KLM needed to take some of thier planes off routes to conserve some cash and cut thier capacity, could delta pick up thier routes out of AMS/CDG? Could this mean more flying?

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 646607)

No, it will be a Sky Team flight operated by Delta Air Lines. We will all be third party contractors. Now where is the irony in that :D

Originally Posted by buzzpat (Post 646609)

Agreed. I hope we're still around. I took French in college but that was a LONG time ago.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 646608)

FWIW, that is what I think will happen. As I stated before, I was wrong about AMS. I figured that KLM would take our flying out of there, but I was told that we would increase out presence out of there.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot (Post 646613)

Ditto. Wonder is they will make it mandatory to have the wine and cheese on all flights. ;)