Virgalask330

I agree with you, but it’s fun to toy around with the idea.

windrider

Hmmm...60 planes? We have 60, I mean 58 E-190s. Why 60?? We sell off our 60 and buy them. Big plan unveiled!

CaptCoolHand

56... don't forget blueginsu in RDU... SLICE AND DICE!

dawgdriver

Yes it is. I'm sure there's a pool of interested applicants who may be willing to take a risk at a fun, fresh start-up with new ideas, rapid growth, upgrades and seniority. Well managed, nimble, unconstrained by expensive, burdensome contracts, it might succeed in carving out a niche. Or, like many others, it may fail. The question becomes the degree of risk exposure and whether it's outweighed by the potential rewards. Certainly not for the majority of qualified pilots, most of which are looking at the benefits of a mature, stable carrier with lucrative contracts.

Neeleman is not a newcomer to this industry. His plan to attract pilots will likely target those uninterested in a career seen by some as working for a faceless, tired, old, boring, politically correct, legacy culture. How he sells it will determine the degree of interest and participation. Hopefully he's getting sound advice and is aware of the dramatic change in landscape; tough sell given the opportunities and advancement opportunities elsewhere. As far as pilots are concerned, he will not be able to take advantage of what new entrants have historically enjoyed: cheap wages. A low ball 'entry-level' compensation package will not draw the numbers he'll be looking to attract.

rickair7777

Might work out in the long run. But some of those guys have mortgages based on CA pay or senior FO pay. Hard to tell the wife you have to sell the house. You could make the case for DL/UA, a little harder for JB.

sflpilot

What's going on with XJT? Are they actually going to close the entire place.

Qotsaautopilot

That’s the rumor at least. When 25yr lifers leave for $55/hr and commute you know it’s bad

nkbux

Very true and living in the northeast doesn’t help the scenario at all...high real estate costs and insane property taxes...hard to live on 60k even if it’s only for a year...

Desert Sky

I can't help to think that Allegiant Air will be spun-off/sold from Allegiant Travel Company and be used to start this Moxy venture. Allegiant Air is virtually the same biz plan and is turn-key.

dawgdriver

Same business plan? How so? Unlike G4, Moxie is planning DAILY service to smaller airports between big cities. Likely to target more of a mix of business class and leisure then Allegiant, who's entire business plan is focused on leisure travel, with profits largely dependent on ancillary sales (hotel rooms, shows, rental cars,...Elvis glasses).

Turn key? So, get rid of the 60 orders for new C series, (like Neeleman did with JetBlue) probably at give-away introductory leases,...and use (mostly) old Allegiant airbii?

Then take on burdensome, inflexible, costly labor contracts, thus negating the few advantages of a new startup? Finally, the $100M he's hoping to raise wont put a dent in G4's market cap of $2.2B.

I don't see it, but hey, I'm just a pilot. That said, if I had a dime for every merger envisioned by a pilot…