I think that it is abundantly clear that the sheer possibility of taking a concessionary contract has angered both the pilot groups of Atlantic Southeast and legacy ExpressJet.

That is no longer the question.

We must ask ourselves what is likely to be SKYW Inc's next move now that we have told them to go (expletive) themselves.


In the SkyWest Inc. earnings conference call of August 7th, Jim Parker, an analyst of Raymond James questioned the profitability of ExpressJet airlines (approximately 21 minutes into the 46 minute call.) Brad Rich responds that ExpressJet had a small operating profit for the 2nd quarter but that the vast majority of Inc.'s profit is from SkyWest Airlines. Basically Brad goes on to say that there are 3 possible solutions to the contract rate issues of ExpressJet:


1. Extend the aircraft at rates back to market rates (most likely through a concessionary contract which the XJT and ASA pilot groups will not accept)


2. Replace existing aircraft with different aircraft types (which we don't likely receive unless we take a concessionary contract)


3. Eliminate flying from the fleet that are performing from subpar contracts.

Option #3 in my mind is the most likely possibility. Why not just let the CPA's that involve unprofitable 50 seat jets expire? Thus the ASA and XJT groups ets smaller and then we are small enough to the point where ASA and XJT can be shut down without severely impacting the major airline partners - we get shutdown.



If you are a holding company that had 2 subsidiaries where one is making almost all of your profit and the other one is dragging you down financially and your efforts to fix the subsidiary are unsuccessful, wouldn't it be in your interest to shut down the unprofitable subsidiary?

I hate our present management and think they must be on (insert favorite narcotic here) by printing out bumper stickers that say "I love ExpressJet" and showing us a video in recurrent on the proper method of lifting and storing our flight cases. But I think that our best option now is to accept a contract that is very similar to SkyWest Airlines in exchange for some clauses in a contract that prevents the ASA, XJT, and SKYW airline pilot groups from being whipsawed from each other. Maybe something that says that all future SkyWest Inc. aircraft orders must be split equally between all 3 groups?

At this point, I have applied to almost every major out there and have not received a single reply. I have not had the chance to upgrade at this company yet. Plus, I am neither of a certain gender, nor of a certain ethnic group - I am just a working stiff WASP. Despite this I am trying my best to go somewhere else.

I have saved enough money to get out this career if it comes down to it. But I don't think I should have to sacrifice a significant percentage of my net worth. At this point, there is no pilot shortage - if there was a shortage, Silver and GoJet wouldn't exist today. If what the management is asking for is for us to take SkyWest airlines rates in exchange for some agreement regarding the equal division of future flying among the 3 pilot groups, I personally do not see it as an intolerable deal to accept.