Huh? 739? There's an airplane in that picture?

I'm not sure how you get 5-15 minutes per flight here. We're talking about the difference between when we've historically turned the beacon on and when the airplane actually begins to push back, right? I've rarely known that to be more than 1-2 minutes, absent a ramp delay of some sort. Even then, we'll only be losing time if the flight goes over scheduled block, right?

Regarding tow-ins, that counts as flight time as surely as pushback does.

I believe it's when the bird moves under it's own power.

Not according to the contract:

“Block time” means the time beginning when an aircraft first moves for the purpose of

Note the absence of the qualifier of movement "under its own power."

Best. Post. Of. The. Day.

Dear Lord FTB, please listen to TYG!!

The total number of allowed 76 seat jets was reduced in contract 2012.

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/...4071883303.jpg

OK aircraft ID fans. Have at it.

The one on top is a Twin Otter.

Technically, yes, but not universally. As it was, we were frozen at 153, with no way to increase without trading in an equal number of 70-seaters AND increasing mainline airframes above a certain number. Now, Delta can add 76-seaters simply by buying 717's (which they arguably might have done anyway) without having to trade in 70-seaters.

That said, there was a way to get to 255 76-seaters under the old contract, and now Delta is limited to a maximum of 223.