10 Billion in debt, in today’s dollars, per the SEC.

And you have to remember, the old United basically died with that merger. Continental was the better run, more respected airline, and the merged entity pivoted hard away from UAL’s legacy culture.

 

It’s important to consider the debt in relation to the size of the companies involved. I don’t remember the exact debt load that each of the legacies carried leading into the big mergers, but I’d wager that it was a significantly smaller percentage of their total net worth than what is involved here. Close to $9 billion in debt for a small company is a different animal than the same load carried by a much larger one.

 

Like most guys say we aren’t that small. Maybe now compared to the merged majors but mainline fleet count of Continental in 2010 was around 350 give or take. JetBlue today is just a bit under 300. Now I don’t know the net worth or the assets vs debt you need someone better at math than me. But we certainly aren’t some worthless company. (Which seems to be the new talking point)

 

Comparing relative size, JetBlue is small today up against the big 4. Prior to the mergers the biggest legacies all had under 500 aircraft. In that environment a company with 300 aircraft wouldn’t be considered small, but in today’s world it is. JB has a pretty good product and definitely isn’t worthless by any measure, but a debt load of almost $9 billion is a huge hurdle to get over. I look at this like one where an attractive woman is interested in a date. She’s picturing herself as a hottie with things to offer while potential suitors agree that she’s pretty but can’t get past the fact that she has 6 kids and a mountain of credit card debt. I hope that JB can turn things around and return to profitability, but being “saved” by a merger is a strategy that was recently proven not to work.

 

We were talking about the size of Continental when they merged and the debt. I understand your point however it would be much easier to say a merger would directly impact your QOL so we will only look at all the reasons it can’t happen. Nothing wrong with that at all and much easier that way.

I am not saying it will happen at all my main beef is with friendly who basically just makes stuff up.

 

Any potential merger with my employer wouldn’t affect my QOL. At my age and seniority I would be too close to the door by the time a new contract and SLI are negotiated for any of this to matter. I just see the debt vs what is offered/desired by others as a major obstacle. Delta is the only legacy with 220’s that could potentially want them, but I seriously doubt that anyone wants any Airbus that isn’t a NEO at this point. American and United wouldn’t want the 220 or older Airbus aircraft, so that presents another hurdle considering the price paid vs what is wanted or kept. There are valuable slots involved, but again I don’t see those being worth the price of buying the whole entity just to get a few desirable pieces. I hope that JB can turn things around, but think that salvation will have to come from within. Banking on staying alive long enough to be “saved” through a merger has been proven to be a poor strategy.

 

Never said "worthless". Said "too much debt". That's not a secret. Its published in financial statements.

Also Continental had about 375 mainline planes plus about 280 regional planes feeding it. Of those 375 planes many were 777s, 767s and 757s. CAL also had a decent worldwide operation, flying to over 130 international destinations.

Also was a different time. So comparing a decision in 2010 with a decision in 2026 with different CEOs and completely different competitive landscape isn't really a fair comparison.

All I can say is what United management has said to us and here we are a year after the partnership was announced and I'm just wondering when this merger is going to happen? If United was going to buy Jetblue it would have happened.

 

Jetblue doesn't have $8.5B in debt? I asserted that. You're saying you know that's not true?

You're upset with my opinion about someone not wanting to buy Jetblue because of that $8.5B in debt. Also that BK doesn't just "wipe out debt".

I'm not sure what the "fascination" is with my opinions on this issue. I've repeated what we have been told by senior management (its asked at every major company meeting) and we get the same answer. Even well before the partnership Kirby said "They have nothing we need but we would like to get some slots in JFK". About a year later they announced the partnership.

2019 was the first "United is buying Jetblue" rumor on APC, and here we are 7 years later and still nothing. I'm waiting...

 

Friendly Pilot and Josh Hemjvick are best of friends.

 

I think we are more fascinated with why you lie on an airline pilot forum claiming you are a wide body CA with nothing to lose, yet you are diving deep into NK's BK docket, looking under JB's skirt and still have time to comment non-stop in every other airline's sub.

So either your wife and kids hate you or you are a junior UA pilot who has nothing better to do and are scared of losing opportunities in a theoretical merger. Now which one is more likely?

Do you really think people are THAT dumb? You don't pass the smell test, brah.

ALSO - what widebody CA who has been at a legacy for 20+ years actually believe what AIRLINE MANAGEMENT tells them?