Nevets and others try to blame all of this on some grand conspiracy of SkyWest Inc. to purposely make XJT unprofitable. That simply isn't true.

The fact is, LXJT pilots are living in a bubble from the past. They think this is still the world when they were CAL's exclusive feed and had a 10 percent cost plus CPA as the exclusive feed. In addition, CAL Exp. and later XJT, never experienced the whipsaw that Delta and United have been using for decades. The DCI and United Express battlefield are littered with corpses of dead regionals or regionals that rebranded after Delta and United got done with them. WestAir, AirWisc, Comair, ACA, etc.

These aren't "little trivial" differences. There is a huge cultural difference between the two carriers. There are huge differences in expectations. And then there is the very real difference pertaining to scheduling methods.

After four years, not only haven't those differences been narrowed, they have actually grown. It is time to move on. As Nevets says, everyone needs a plan B. The ASA side is executing their plan B. That is protecting the interests of their pilots.

 

Firsttimeflyer - I don't see the connection. I'm not on here arguing with you about anything. I'd prefer this thread change course or die. It's embarrassing.

Nevets - I haven't read any of your posts, but I noticed you seemed like the one XJT'er that kept this ridiculous thread going in its current direction. If what bedrock wrote is a summery of your posts then I owe you an apology. This summery is correct information. Please don't feed these trolls anymore. Youre not going to change anyone's mind on here.

 

What bubble? Inc has said it themselves repeatedly on earnings calls and quarterly reports that the CPAs they negotiated for the ERJ side are unprofitable.

 

So you knowingly and willingly came in here ignorant to the discussion yet felt impelled to call people posting in this thread toolbags? I would be embarrassed about that if I were you. Especially since you called out one of your own.

 

The bubble you are living in is thinking that regional CPAs can pay what they did in their heyday when mainline carriers couldn't get their hands on enough RJ flying and paid top dollar for those CPAs. In addition, CalExp/XJT had the added benefit of being the exclusive feed for CAL. Both of those days are long gone. Instead of being a shortage of RJ feed and an exclusive operator, there is now a surplus of RJ feed and you are one of many subcontractors vying for that shrinking business.

The real amazing part is how many of you can't see that and still think this is the same FFD business as it was 15 years ago.

 

What needs to either change course or die is this merger....Do you honestly see it working?

 

And let's not forget these industry outliers, which are the true reason XE is losing money:

Industry leading 50 seat RJ rates
Company paid defined contribution retirement plans
90% company paid PPO health insurance
Company paid On the Job Injury (OJI) bank
Line Bidding with vacation touch/drop
Inability of the company to contact on-duty crew members for rescheduling except in person
No operational flexibility
Angry labor groups, unwilling to perform above minimum requirements of contracts.

This is not a union vs union pi$$ing contest. This is a very real merger failure because of diametrically opposed cultures clashing in a vacuum of leadership.

So yes, it's time for the ACQUIRED (not hired) carrier to get on board or get parked. The SKW BOD has clearly run out of patience. They are not going to let the angry money losing side sink the profitable and willing side.

 

Actually, I think the merger can work. As we know, the musings of a few participants on an Internet thread are not the beliefs of the entire pilot group. Most of us know that there are things that will have to change with the current contracts. OJI will change for LXJT, vacation low will change for LASA, etc... The goal is for the overall quality of life to get better, and the overall compensation package to get better. That doesn't mean that we can expect to work 10 days a month and double our salary with the next contract.

So, what REALISTICALLY needs to happen to pass a contract? That is what we need to be focusing on. Remember, we get paid to fly airplanes, not sit at home. If you want to make more, conventional wisdom would say you work more. So how do we create a realistic environment in which we can work intelligently with the company and move toward an overall better situation for all involved?

 

They knew what they were getting when they "acquired" us. None of that was a secret. Close the doors. No concessions. Some of us actually have another career/skillset. It would be nice to be home every night for a change and actually earn a respectable wage.

 

Then what's stopping you?