Spot On! Add the 787 in that band too just in case they make an order for that.

 

It will be interesting to see what they pick to start the 7ER retirements. The 350 seats over a 100 more people. The 330 NEO will seat 70 or so more. The 787 might be better sized but your paying for a bunch of range capability you don't need. Boeing might have missed the boat not offering a 767-300/400 NEO.

 

The 767 line is still operating. It may not be too late...

 

Boeing might be starting to see the fruits of their design/marketing/pricing decisions. Funny that you chose the 767-300/400 as a starting point. But look at how they "developed" the 737 lines beyond the classic -200/-300. Launch customer decided. Idiotic.

Stopping the 757 line in favor of the stretched 737 is about as smart as New Coke was. (Sorry, that is the best analogy I can think of)

Lack of cockpit commonality allowed Airbus to infiltrate the markets, and last but certainly not least, their insistence on bending over American airlines for their products while offering deep discounts to those ME countries that pay cash obtained from US taxpayer subsidized loan programs makes them pretty disgusting if you ask me.

I love Boeing airplanes, especially the ones I fly but I cannot stand their corporate 'values' in regard to American airlines. Truly disgusting. Maybe the C series order will be a wake up of sorts, but I highly doubt it. Anxiously awaiting the 737-1000 with 45 more seats. Tailwheel airplanes will be back!

 

That begs a question. We still have 787s on order. Will we keep those, convert them to 787-9/10 or just cancel them and buy the largest C Series?

 

Yep, that is one way. Do you think the union would ever TA something like that? Or that anyone who will be able to hold a 777/350 one day would vote for it? even moving toward pay banding would be a tough sell to the guys who are not getting the same percentage raise.

 

Here's my take on it. We are a strong carrier financially- right now. But the current strategy of surrendering and code-sharing has me worried for our future.

Management has us fighting all these battles with the ME3 and Norwegian etc. Using our ALPA capital. Some battles which we might not win. But I give it- it is worth the fight.

But behind our backs (actually right in front of our noses), they keep surrendering our routes and code-sharing like there is no tomorrow. A lot of smaller destinations in Europe has gone to the code-share with KLM and Air France. And now they want us to relax even more international JV clause. And I am glad we recognized the threat and stood up by voting the TA down.

We pulled our two Mumbai flights (non-stop and via Amsterdam) due to the ME3 issue they say. And we started code sharing with Jet Airways. We code share with Virgin Australia- and we feed passengers on them to Melbourne and Sydney. Meanwhile- United runs non-stops to Melbourne, Auckland, Sydney, Mumbai and Delhi.

We got out of Dubai and Kuwait. (Which I understand was not sustaineable once the military contracts ran dry). We got out of our freight business. Yet we we Air France 747 cargo jets in Atlanta.

At one point they said we are going to expand point to point destinations in China. Now we revised our plans and we are code-sharing with Chinese carriers- and China Eastern is on a massive US expansion.

Meanwhile... airlines like American and United are making point to point long haul destinations work. And they have a very good fleet plan to make it work. 777s, 787s etc. We are still stuck in the hub-hub concept with a limited widebody fleet.

The decisions our CEOs make today are often short term. Jack up the stock prices, take their money and move on. We get to live with their decisions for a lifetime. Show me one CEO who stayed the duration of a typical airline pilot career. You won't see it. Not even close. One day it is Delta. Next day it is Burger King.

What can we do to reverse this? Number one- we need a strong scope clause in the international playing field. I don't give a damn if it's Emirates destroying my career or if it's China Eastern or Air France. So we need protections put in place AND ENFORCED. We will fight some of company's battles with ALPA capital (ME3 etc). But the management better have our backs and future in their mind as well.

And with the number of second tier pay 330s coming in- we better pay band those things to 777/747 pay. Or yes- this will end up being a second rate legacy.

And finally, this is a good wake up call for all our esteemed coolaid drinkers. Just as near as 6 months back- a lot of the Delta fanboys were saying we are so far on top of the food chain- that it is a no-brainer to work for Delta. It is no longer the case. For a lot of my military and civilian friends- Delta is the dead last choice among the legacies. Still- not a bad job.

Sky is not falling- but we better watch out. I am wondering if we will see a new strategy under Ed. Time will tell. RA was a good CEO. But I am not impressed by a number of his long term decisions. Are we going to keep RA's legacy or surrendering and code-share? Or are we going to compete and revise our strategy in the international market?

Before you come here and yammer on about the current profits and the stock prices- I know that already. When you are not investing and expanding and instead actively pulling back: you can make a **** ton of profits. But in short term. And stock princes? ALL airline stocks have pretty much played in the range Delta stock has done. Some better, some worse.

On the other hand- I do applaud the management for our Seattle expansion. And developing a strong domestic front. But remember- the Seattle expansion didn't happen because they wanted to please any employee group over here.. It happened because Alaska told us to go screw ourselves.

Walstreet wise- we were the flavor of the year. But we are now seeing cracks long term.

 

Delta will be fine until you get on with a major.

 

unposted. filler

 

Our debt has gone from $19B to around $6B. AAL and UAL have gone from $19B to points higher. When there is a downturn in the economy, who is in a better position? I have no idea what the code share philosophy of the company has to do with your concern in this regard.