Just going through the motions. Everyone has known for a long time it will take the imminent threat of a work action to get the company seriously at the table.

 

I think it's optimistic to think a contract is coming any time soon. I believe Spirit buys Frontier in 1-2 years. Franke wanted it when he was on the board at Spirit. Biffle has morphed F9's business model into a spitting image of NK's. Fornaro was brought to NK clean up the image and improve performance metrics, but also because he has the M&A experience. Baldanza wanted to grow NK organically, so he was given the boot. Once F9 is IPOed and SAVE stock reaches a predetermined value as to not dilute the share price too badly, Spirit will make a bid using mostly stock and save their cash reserves to fund continued growth. There is very little route structure overlap, but that's starting to change as both airlines grow and begin to infringe on the each other's territory. Common fleet, common reservation system, common business strategy...it's basically plug and play. Change some signs, paint some airplanes, buy some uniforms...voila!

The worst part about this scenario is how it affects contract negotiations for both groups. Right now, both management groups are enjoying a "yuuuuge" comparative advantage in labor savings over the competition. Do you think they want to give that up any time soon? Merge the airlines, and we're back to square one on negotiations plus mired in an SLI for a couple more years.

 

The only good news is the mediator is scheduling more frequent sessions.

 

I have a question if it is possible for someone to shed some light. A friend of mine is bus-rated 2100 bus time and 2900 total with an FAA atp. Was flying the bus in Indonesia for three years. I noticed at Frontier website they ask for 500 pic which he doesn't have. He only has something like 250 pic from Cessna flying etc. Can he still apply ? Will they consider him ? Thank you for any advise gentlemen.

 

You know there is a edit button right? And just curious how you got yourself and him mixed up?

 

Riverside, come on. Please advise Thanks

 

That's the best news I've seen out of negotiations since being assigned a favorable mediator. We're in our 5th month of mediated negotiations and the mediator has already declared that enough progress isn't being made. Now he's doubled-down on the number of meetings per month just as we're passing into the economic sections of the contract; which should stall out, hence the SPSC drawing up volunteers for the impending strike vote. This isn't progress in terms of contract language but it is certainly progress in the RLA process to reach self-help ("strike").

 

Yes, he can apply. No, unless they (pilot recruitment) decide at a later date to publish lower minimums.

 

As far I understand if you are bus rated and have experience on the 320 the 500 hours pic is not mandatory. If anybody can help with the recruitment team please PM. Would really appreciate to avoid the regionals and the rjs. Thanks

 

I'm not sure why you quoted me on this one. I have no illusions of us getting a contract any time soon. I also tend to agree with the spirit thing. Or at least I can see it happening. They want an MCO base and we want a LAS base. I wonder if they are both just waiting till we are one company. After an IPO.