I think pre covid we we’re driving our used can-am down I95 sandwiched between a bunch of fully loaded big rigs (I’d rather be in the truck) trying to get over to a exit and stay alive, now we are on some mountain single lane road down hill with switch backs (I’ll take the used can-am.

Everything has changed and there are risks for all of us but I’d be willing to bet if it really goes south one or two of the big guys go before us and at that point the government will have to “save” the industry. We can’t function well without a robust airline system. I think we will be “ok” not great but ok.

Or maybe not

 

ok maybe not the end of “all” airlines. But I think it’s hard to argue the one airline is positions better than another. I understand that the majors get 40~ percent of their revenue from international travel while we get it from domestic travel. But I can see putting us in the same bucket as them right now by just looking at how NY is with their travel restrictions. Honestly not trying to argue about it just trying to have someone change my mind about how we (JetBlue) come out of this on top?

I was thinking the other day, although it’s fantasy and in today’s political environment wouldn’t work. The airlines should all get together and say “hey boys, this is not our fault. We didn’t create this problem, you shut the economy off, turned the lights out on the country and now have locked your doors throughout the country. Send us some more cheddar or we just park our planes and no one goes anywhere” I know it’s a complete fantasy. But it does sound good kinda. I’m sure one of the school house bullies wouldn’t play along though and take all the flying from everyone else.

 

Don’t think anyone is saying JetBlue will come out on top. But, we are better positioned to survive longer than others. One advantage is we are relatively small (nimble) and can adapt to new revenue environment. Our recent route announcements are evidence to that. Ex: I think EWR, BDL was more a play to shift away from reliance on JFK with NY’s Covid rules, as well as the exodus of people out of the city.

As far as Govt help, If (Covid) continues long enough one of the high debt airlines will falter much sooner than B6. Maybe one more round of PSP help from Govt, but personally don’t think Congress can agree to get it done in the next 5 business days, not with Govt Shutdown and Supreme Court being higher priority. That will put a lot of pressure on the other big debt carriers and yes, we may even have to furlough in May. But we’ll be fine in long run. Or, maybe not

 

Yeah, that is fantasy. And collusion.
And which government would pay? The federal government? They didn't shut down the economy. So the state and local governments? They aren't going to pay the airlines.
And you realize government money is your money, right? So we are asking the taxpayers to fund us or we hold the planes on the ground and refuse to fly... refuse to fly the same people who are taxpayers, and who we need to buy tickets from us to operate to begin with?? No, this does not "sound good kinda".
Meanwhile, thousands of small business across the country are going out of business permanently with no help from the government.
I'm sure public sentiment would be on our side. *rolls eyes*.

 

Gotta agree with Chip here. May be time for the government to stop printing money for airlines and let the airline industry work itself out through normal market forces. One could argue the weak will fail and others will pick up the slack. We may even fail (but after others), kinda like what small business is experiencing. But hey, at least we’ll never hear pilots complain about other global airlines being subsidized by their government. Be kinda ironic now wouldn’t it? (Sarcasm)

 

Was just a thought. Sorry that you didn’t like it. I’m a pilot here. I’d like for the government help us succeed. I would like to keep my job. I’ll go back to being more sensitive. Also correct me if I’m wrong government gave small business money. Or some how my sister in law got 20k free from the government. The local coffee shop seems to have more foot traffic at the moment than any JetBlue flight I have worked in the last month.

 

I can see you don’t like writing posts and then having someone disagree with you and counter your ideas with ideas of their own. Must be tough for you.
Im also a pilot here. I want to keep my job. I’d rather the government stay out of it. That’s my opinion, and I’d tell you why, but I don’t think you want to hear it considering you didn’t acknowledge any point I made. That’s okay, though.
The federal government freed up loans for small businesses, but they weren’t handing out money, and that money went extremely quickly. If you don’t believe me, again, that’s fine, but I’m sure you’ll see the truth around you as many small business continue to shut down permanently.

 

tatter chip!!! Literally could care less. I just said sorry to him for not liking my fantastic idea. Rebuttal is not my feelings being hurt.

It’s funny the CEO is asking you to sign a letter asking for more loot and you’re saying nope we don’t need it. Wouldn’t you think that the CEO has a better idea of what we should do? I would love to hear your ideas mate.

 

I’ll offer an opinion on this: both GK (WN) and RH (B6) have been advocating for a PSP clean extension. The two best balance sheets in the industry, why, because it’s free money, with no strings attached.

Why wouldn’t you take advantage of that free money as a CEO while you position your company for life after Covid. The companies with huge debt will have to shrink, eventually all Govt help will end.

The companies with healthy balance sheets will grow. Or, there will be a bunch of CH11’s and Mergers, let’s hope for the former rather than the the latter. Just an opinion.

 

I didn’t say “nope we don’t need it.”
I do think the CEO probably has a better idea. He is, after all, the CEO. I am not.
I simply stated that I would like to keep the government out of it. That’s the way I would prefer to see most things run, to the extent possible. I would like to see the strongest survive this, due to good business practice. I would rather not see inflated legacies (see AA) and mismanaged dreamers (see Frontier) propped up by taxpayer dollars.
If I were RH, and the fed was considering an extension on PSP Cares, with continued no strings attached, of course I’d be advocating for it.

That said, I’m against the airlines colluding with one another and refusing to take flight in order to attempt a forced payout from the federal government.