Any "Latest & Greatest" about Delta?
DAL paid $1 billion more last quarter than a year ago for fuel, yet still made a profit of $366 million. So when fuel costs weren't this high how could anyone (e.g. DALPA reps I come across) say the company can't afford pay restoration or anything close to it? The few DALPA guys I've flown with (both former and active) tell me profit sharing is the way to go, and that I shouldn't expect a significant (for me that means 20% or more) increase in pay (day 1).
I won't pretend to be as smart as a lot of guys on this thread about all things Delta, but I just don't get how one can make the argument pay restoration isn't affordable, yet at the same time a billion more can be found to cover other costs. And, yes, I get that ticket prices can more easily be increased to deal with fuel costs than they can for labor, but until someone starts making an argument labor costs increase as well, pilots all over are going to remain relegated to the results equivalent to their low expectations. Granted, the company is making moves to reduce costs and maximize revenue where it can, and we can't expect each quarter to be profitable with such huge fuel cost increases. But $1 billion more for the qtr compared to a year ago and I'm supposed to expect something around a 5% pay rate increase?
I won't pretend to be as smart as a lot of guys on this thread about all things Delta, but I just don't get how one can make the argument pay restoration isn't affordable, yet at the same time a billion more can be found to cover other costs. And, yes, I get that ticket prices can more easily be increased to deal with fuel costs than they can for labor, but until someone starts making an argument labor costs increase as well, pilots all over are going to remain relegated to the results equivalent to their low expectations. Granted, the company is making moves to reduce costs and maximize revenue where it can, and we can't expect each quarter to be profitable with such huge fuel cost increases. But $1 billion more for the qtr compared to a year ago and I'm supposed to expect something around a 5% pay rate increase?
DAL mngmt has "sold" DALPA on the validity of their "shell" game. Mngmt always will be able to "find" money for bonuses and oil.
Maybe DALPA, DPA or whomever should convey the message that DAL PILOTS are going to cost the company a WHOLE LOT MORE on the next contract, or else............Maybe our UNION should become like OPEC, raise prices at all costs. Nobody seems to challenge the necessity of oil.
It takes OIL to run motors, It takes PILOTS to fly the aircraft. I think DAL MNGMT should cherish us more

TEN
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DAL paid $1 billion more last quarter than a year ago for fuel, yet still made a profit of $366 million. So when fuel costs weren't this high how could anyone (e.g. DALPA reps I come across) say the company can't afford pay restoration or anything close to it? The few DALPA guys I've flown with (both former and active) tell me profit sharing is the way to go, and that I shouldn't expect a significant (for me that means 20% or more) increase in pay (day 1).
I won't pretend to be as smart as a lot of guys on this thread about all things Delta, but I just don't get how one can make the argument pay restoration isn't affordable, yet at the same time a billion more can be found to cover other costs. And, yes, I get that ticket prices can more easily be increased to deal with fuel costs than they can for labor, but until someone starts making an argument labor costs increase as well, pilots all over are going to remain relegated to the results equivalent to their low expectations. Granted, the company is making moves to reduce costs and maximize revenue where it can, and we can't expect each quarter to be profitable with such huge fuel cost increases. But $1 billion more for the qtr compared to a year ago and I'm supposed to expect something around a 5% pay rate increase?
I won't pretend to be as smart as a lot of guys on this thread about all things Delta, but I just don't get how one can make the argument pay restoration isn't affordable, yet at the same time a billion more can be found to cover other costs. And, yes, I get that ticket prices can more easily be increased to deal with fuel costs than they can for labor, but until someone starts making an argument labor costs increase as well, pilots all over are going to remain relegated to the results equivalent to their low expectations. Granted, the company is making moves to reduce costs and maximize revenue where it can, and we can't expect each quarter to be profitable with such huge fuel cost increases. But $1 billion more for the qtr compared to a year ago and I'm supposed to expect something around a 5% pay rate increase?
DAL pilots saved this company. I think it's time for a payback.
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"Right now, we are staffed properly for the rest of the year and the flying we expect to see at the beginning of next year." When do we find out about staffing needed for next summer? Any chance we may need to hire?
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The 500 million in interest savings is when we have paid the debt down to 10 billion. We are currently at 13.6 billion and have a long way to go to get to 10 billion. Our last quarter was really not that impressive. Much of the profit was eaten up by special items. The actual earnings were 198 million and we cut way back on infrastructure improvements. In addition unlike AMR and UAL Delta is investing virtually zero in aircraft. The bill for fleet renewel will be huge. Management seems to be focused on trying to keep the stock price up and not the long term outlook for the airline. Until DAL gets its house in order from a customer service prospective which so far management has been a failure at I would not expect great things. If Cal management can bring their customer service to UAL things might get ugly. On the other hand from talking to a couple of Airtran guys ATL is going to be really difficult for SW after management jumped into the SLI list and is using the gun to the head method to force ratification. The SW culture wont exist there for a very long time even if the list is ratified.
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From: B757/767
The 500 million in interest savings is when we have paid the debt down to 10 billion. We are currently at 13.6 billion and have a long way to go to get to 10 billion. Our last quarter was really not that impressive. Much of the profit was from 1 time gains and we cut way back on infrastructure improvements. Until DAL gets its house in order from a customer service prospective which so far management has been a failure at I would not expect great things. If Cal management can bring their customer service to UAL things might get ugly. On the other hand from talking to a couple of Airtran guys ATL is going to be really difficult for SW after management jumped into the SLI list and is using the gun to the head method to force ratification. The SW culture wont exist there for a very long time even if the list is ratified.
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
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That was my point on SW. Things are going to get ugly. They are ugly now with the Airtran group. They may ratify the SLI feeling they don't have a choice but they will never join the SW culture. UAL does have a long way to go however if they do get their customer service up to the CAL standard they will be a monster competitor.
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