Any VS transatlantic flying that is added to the current JV would come out of the European side of the AF/KLM/Alitalia JV percentage so it would mean more flying for DAL pilots if they are "brought into the fold", (thank you to DALPA/ALPA for successfully arguing that adding Alitalia would come out of the "European side", setting an important precedent for future negotiations).

That article reeks of speculation however, and DAL just got permission for yet another LHR slot so not sure totally how valuable they are... Unfortunately they are becoming more and more irrelevant in the global airline economy, so I think SRB wants to see it bought/mereged instead of dying via bankruptcy for ego's sake.

If Delta is the majority share holder, would they keep the Virgin Brand? Would it even be a JV anymore?

This is an old one but think it may apply for the current Virgin speculation.....this has been in the tea leaves for awhile...time will tell...

http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/y...ceIsFutile.jpg

AF KLM would take 51 percent, making them the majority shareholder. Not sure if SRB would allow the brand to continue outside of his control

No worries, all is good, this will be great for you and progression

Reading the article, it seems the initial plan was for DAL to be the majority shareholder.

Delta is understood to have offered to buy Singapore Airlines' 49 percent stake in Virgin. If it succeeds, Delta's European partner Air France-KLM may then buy part of Richard Branson's 51 percent stake, seeing its founder lose control of the airline for the first time.


So I'm reading that as DAL having 49%, and the remaining 51% being divided among AF/KLM & Richard Branson.

DALPA will be thrilled by how much they can help the company out on this one!

Are the short call RAP preferences in order of seniority? And if so is crew scheduling required to follow the seniority? I can't find anything in the contract.

For example:

5 pilots on short call tomorrow. All 5 are off today. All 5 pilots are in the same bucket and same Short Call group. Suppose you want the latest Rap period and several other pilots received later Rap periods than you.

Thanks.

If you put in a "first in order for short call" yellow slip, then you'll get it. The pitfall is if you're senior, and you just use the "if needed for short call" yellow slip, then young pups such as myself can use the first in order for short call slip to cherry pick the late SCs. Each yellow slip template has two time windows. First is earliest start, second is latest release. Fill em out and enjoy the 1400-0200 SC.

So, if the Virgin Atlantic deal goes down that way, what does that do for us as Delta pilots?

Are we going to have a base in the UK, or what? :D