They sure seem confident in a pilot contract being done before the due date. Not sure how they expect only a 2% increase in employee costs and a new pilot contract. Sure sounds like they don't plan on reaching into the wallet. Perhaps they already have direction from ALPA and offsets are in the works.

Also confirmed that we will be down to 7 747's at the end of this year with only 6 flying.

And no displacements. Right.

Displacements off the whale will push the training dept over the cliff. Maybe another buyout. This time with more incentive.

04-15-2015 | 08:51 AM

#180854

BenderRodriguez

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Pete Najarian thinks DAL will hit $50. DYODD of course.

04-15-2015 | 08:57 AM

#180855

flyallnite

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From: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gzsg

And no displacements. Right.

Displacements off the whale will push the training dept over the cliff. Maybe another buyout. This time with more incentive.

If they do another buyout, I want to see concrete timelines for those who take it to leave the airline. In the past, and currently, there are pilots who took buyouts, then remained on the line earning a salary, because we were 'short staffed'. How did that help me again? I'm sorry, but working until you are 65 AND taking a buyout isn't fair. I don't care if we're short LCA's, or whatever. Put out a bid now, start training, THEN offer the buyout.

04-15-2015 | 09:00 AM

#180856

Timbo

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From: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfun

Keep in mind that as the mainline expands they are hiring in very low cost employees in every division. No retirements and low wages for many years. A growing airline can support increases because of the net employee costs relative to revenue drop with new hires. SWA lived off that concept for 25 years. Once the magic chain was broken and they stopped growing employee costs soared. In addition headcount is growing slower relative to revenue as many departments increase productivity.
Expect the company opener to focus heavily on that concept with the pilot group also. Don't buy into forum hysteria that is sure to come but keep a sharp eye on jobs. Money is not everything. In the past DALPA's estimates of jobs lost or gained have proven to be very accurate. There will be contractual changes that effect jobs but there is no reason to have a net job loss when everything is tallied in this contract. We gave enough in jobs in the past.

As we are retiring senior pilots and hiring newbies, our 'average' pilot costs will go down, no doubt, just look at teh cost savings with a number 10,500 as a Captain, vs. any 12+ year Capt's pay/benefits.

And parking the 50 seat RJ's, replacing them with 717's will also drive down 'unit costs'.

But the next big productivity concession I see coming in this contract is Pay Banding. American just did it, and you KNOW this industry is always Monkey See, Monkey Do, so I expect we'll get it shoved down our throats too.

OK, here's my suggestion for pay banding...

Everything, from the 717 to the 777, is banded to the soon to be parked 747 rates!

Now, let's see how just how badly Richard wants it....

04-15-2015 | 09:04 AM

#180857

BenderRodriguez

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Quote:

Originally Posted by flyallnite

It won't get rid of the target audience though. It will only cause a little stagnation instead of backsliding. The Ninjas aren't going anywhere.

04-15-2015 | 09:04 AM

#180858

Timbo

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From: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyallnite

It won't help any one remaining here, because the 747 jobs are going away along with the pilots.

Net movement for you up the pay scale = zero.

BUT...it will keep those guys from displacing down on top of you, if they retire, vs. stay.

04-15-2015 | 09:09 AM

#180859

flyallnite

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From: Stay THIRSTY, my friends!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbo

Well, that's my point. They offer the buyout, and guys on other equipment take it, and get asked to 'stick around' because they are LCA's or they are just short of captains in that category. OR the 747's 'stick around' longer than planned. How many times did that happen with the DC9? It does affect everyone because they didn't staff for that position with a non-buyout pilot, at least until they guy leaves. I'm just saying, if there's a buyout, then there needs to be a 'drop dead' date after which you're out the door. There are people who took the last buyout who are still here, flying trips.