No I can't. Then I'd have to commute, and you don't even want to get me started on that...:D

The GDP reports today tell the story. Delta's planning for lowered economic estimates, conserving cash and paying down debt. That's good for us, since the $400,000,000.00 that would have gone to debt service is now staying on the bottom line and contributing to profitability.

Delta's only going to buy what it needs and it will not be for growth, not until there is some market to grow into. It looks to me like the RFP will be scaled back and focus more on 757 replacements, because they have to.

The market is pricing our stock based on what they think is going to happen to our customer base.

As far as action on the ALPA front, that we know about, much will hinge on the results of the upcoming pilot survey. Our Chairman seems to want to facilitate the will of the pilots.

IMHO, that means the real action will be here, on this board. It also means we need to strive to be very rational and mature when we participate in the upcoming pilot contract survey. If the consensus view is ridiculous, we could find ourselves in an endless contract struggle (like American).

Right now, we are at the top of the heap for airlines in our position (debt, fleet age, market). Other airlines have used our JPWA to pattern up to near our levels, but no one has passed us allowing us to use them as a justification for higher rates. (getting AirTran up to SWA helps, but SWA is a better financial position than we are and has fewer risks in the domestic market). We need United to do well, we need American to do well and we need US Air to fix their mess (probably hopeless from a labor standpoint).

My crystal ball says anything "exciting" is not going to be good. There are near universal denial from our MEC that 100 seat flying is up for grabs, but they also steadfastly refuse to put that position in writing (particularly prior to the contract survey). If given the choice between stagnation and crisis, I'll take stagnation.

Great post, Bucking. You're analysis is spot on.

Do you have any idea how scary this kind of statement is? Your credibilikty is now a complete ZERO. Just like the troll....

Oh please do. Let's hear the wisdom of one that does not CHOOSE to commute. Tell us all oh exalted one.

Ok, since you asked....

I would HAVE to commute. I couldn't actually move to any of those cities because my favorite Mexican restaurant is right across the street from my house here in ATL.

My house in Texas has been for sale over a year...I'd love not to commute. If the company would buy my house at fair market value, I'd be there. With tougher mortgage lending rules and a down economy, my home sale won't happen anytime soon. Ergo, I commute. :(

http://img2.moonbuggy.org/imgstore/s...makes-none.jpg

Analogy time? Yes. Two football teams are playing each other in a game, the current ALPA system has 1 man as head coach of both teams.

Now people question the conflict of interest. The rebuttal? Well if you have a problem with that then how can all of the players on the same team be coached by 1 guy?? You'd have to have coaches for each player.

Well they do. There is a DC, OC, Quarterbacks coach, wide reciever coach, special team coach and so on. But they're all on the same team and they report to 1 coach.

Who in the end shouldn't also be coaching or looking out for the financial interests of the other team.... or as I said earlier, that head coach can't serve two masters. He can't be concerned about both teams.

If DALPA wanted to separate from ALPA and let me vote for the MEC Chair I'd support DALPA.

Are they stronger now?


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Oh my. If I said GO ALPA! LOVE LM LONG TIME! all day do you promise not to bring that subject up again? :D