Richard Anderson on today's conference call.

The most worrying thing about it is the distribution of the cuts.
Trans-Atlantic is slated to be chopped 8-10% this fall. That's pretty significant. The first analyst question hit the issue right on the head as far as who will bear those cuts.
Delta might be the one doing all the cutting while our alliance partners do none of it because thay have "labor considerations" and "social pressures" which prevent them from reducing capacity in any meaningful way that might impact jobs.

We need to watch this very carefully to make sure that Delta pilots don't absorb all the pain while AF/KLM/Alitalia use our joint venture as a jobs program.

Good point alfa and as one of the guys that falls in that range I appreciate your sentiment!

Had we more guys running the show with your big picture, I think we probably would have fewer than the 600+ RJs operating small jet service on behalf of Delta right now. That flying then would be at mainline; providing more jobs for Delta pilots probably beyond the 900 surplus positions.

I for one wouldn't mind one bit being more productive in return for a higher paycheck and more days off...

Cheers
George

I just got back on the ER, two weeks waiting for OE so far. Now they are reducing the Atlantic again? Guess I'll be off the ER soon. After we lost Amman and Cairo (two best paying trips by the way) which will now be supported b AF and KLM out of Amsterdam and Paris, why can't we do those flights? We have 5th freedom rights don't we?

Remember, that quote about labor and social issues was from an analyst and not a Delta person. Both the Joint Venture agreement and all three contracts (DL, AF, KLM) all specify that the cuts are done 50-50. AF/KLM may not cut their total capacity, that is for them to decide, but for the Joint Venture flying across the Atlantic, it has to be 50-50.

Actually, when were talking furloughs, the poop flows uphill. You loose the bottom 900 and the displacements resonate up through the seniority list. I'm glad that your in a position to not be effected by the loose of 450 captain positions - good for you. The bottom 900 are hating life, being on the street and all (I would be one of them), but everyone else is loosing bidding power as they're relative seniority is eroded.

For the record - I got you're original point, but I'm not sure if you got mine. Maybe you were to busy correcting my grammar.

I thought these cuts were already announced?

Okay, 1/2 of 1% is 60 pilots. Go to the DALPA forum and count up the individual posters. Probably 80% of the posts are made by 10 pilots and some of them support the union. Look at this forum, same thing. So if I am wrong, then please identify the other 40 pilots that make up the first 1/2 of 1%. Then identify the next 60 pilots that pull you to 1%. Then identify the next 1100 pilots that take you to 10%. Then identify the next 1200 that take you to 20%. You can use initials, screen names, etc. to avoid direct identification. You won't be able to because once again, Carl, you are wrong. 1/2 of 1% is pretty close to accurate maybe even generous.

The internet gives everyone a chance to have their say, only most forums are dominated by a few prolific posters that drown out the rest. Go ahead and count how many posts are made by SC, JF, RW, PK on the DALPA forum. Many others are afraid to wade into the swamp created by these few posters. In my many years hear the forum has never represented the will of the Delta pilots. Never.

Not the widebodies.

More than you think
 

I think there are a lot of pilots (just a hunch not a fact) that come to this forum and read but don't necessarily post. I for one rarely post but I do keep up to date and view a lot. I personally know of quite a few that lurk and never post. There is a lot of good info here and a lot of not so good info. Just because the number of active/prolific posters might be a small number/percentage, there are a lot of readers/lurkers. Just look at the number of views vs posters.

Did anyone see the announcement of the retirement of 130 aircraft over the next 18months! What is the current crew rate per widebody aircraft? 7 to 9?