Originally Posted by JobHopper (Post 787226)

The way it was explained to me by EB at Captain Leadership School was that there is too much freighter competition overseas. Consequently, the profit isn't there for dedicated freighters anymore. We were also told that with the combined fleets we are moving more belly freight than NWA did with its dedicated freighters. But I'm reading here from you international types that we are leaving freight behind:confused:.

OTOH, Delta just trumpeted its new $10 miliion mail contract. Fed Ex's mail contract is $1 BILLION, according to my Fed Ex buddies. Still sounds like there's money to be made out there.

Originally Posted by iaflyer (Post 787229)

Let me fix that for you.

NWA just didn't want to invest in the freighters. Their competitors all bought B747-400 freighters and have lower costs. Atlas, Kalitta Air and Evergreen all make money these days and are US based and run.

Originally Posted by Dash8widget (Post 787223)

That's a good point - when the LAX and CVG 767 bases were converted to ER they were opened for bid just like a new category (which is what they were). Is there some sort of side agreement with ALPA concerning the 755 transition that would keep this from happening?

Originally Posted by JobHopper (Post 787246)

That closes the loop on my original post a few pages back. Passenger carriers have never been able to figure out the freight business. I'm really not sure why. FWIW, Atlas would have still made a substantial profit paying market wages back then.

BTW, I loved flying freight. It was the pay, benefits, schedules, contract (actually, a lack of all of the above) which caused me to seek fame and fortune elsewhere. I've given up on the fame (though I'm still checking out rivers to land in:p), and the fortune part isn't looking so hot, either :D.

Originally Posted by iaflyer (Post 787250)

I could go on forever on why US pax carriers can't make money in freight. Summary: too many other costs added onto the freight operation.

I flew freight for 9 years prior to Delta - last job was flying the 747 for Kalitta Air. I completely agree on the reasons to move on from freight!

Originally Posted by Waves (Post 786572)

My wife's IQ is probably higher than anyone on this thread even if she does happen to own two cats. By the way, my wife is also a pilot, but she isn't condescending and narrow minded like many of the posts I've seen here. I'm just saying................

Originally Posted by Dash8widget (Post 787220)

Alaskan? Whats Alaskan?

Calling Alaska Airlines (no "n") Alaskan is just like calling Delta an Airline instead of Air Line

Originally Posted by Imapilot2 (Post 787138)

Just so you know, MSP DC9 is set to close when the new MD90's are ready. All MD 90's are to be based out of MSP. It will be the sole MD90 base and the only base to have MD90 trained crews.

Originally Posted by JobHopper (Post 787226)

OTOH, Delta just trumpeted its new $10 miliion mail contract. Fed Ex's mail contract is $1 BILLION, according to my Fed Ex buddies. Still sounds like there's money to be made out there.

Originally Posted by Waves (Post 787254)

So what you are saying is that our previous management was actually correct about something? Difficult to believe. LOL