All future DAL classes delayed indefinitely?
 

Heard from a usually reliable source that effective today, all future classes are being put off for the foreseeable future. On the bright side, no furloughs should occur...

heard from a good source that they are training this weeks class (48) plus 100 more, then the doors will shut. If you can get in training by May you are probably good.

are they going to still hire and then train from a pool or stop all together?

If this is indeed true then most likely it is just temporary. They may need instructors to fly the line this summer. I would venture that DAL would start up the hiring process again in the late summer if this is true.

Let's hope for the newbies sake, that's the worse case scenario. I've spoken with a higher-up (before today's announcement), that 1) they would not use the "F" word to newhires just for the sake of it, gotta be WWIII or something huge (oil at 110 doesn't quite cut it), 2) They are very reluctant to stop the whole hiring process, because it would take them months just to get the pipeline filled again. 3) They will not CX flights because of short staffing during peak summer months, unlike AA or NW or UA.

Granted, they may choose to continue at a slower pace, and put people in a pool. I think the next few classes are safe, because those new hires will be flying the peak summer months when they get off training. The late summer classes may be anybody's guesses, but I doubt they'll stop all classes altogether. We still have few new a/c hitting the property, and they need to be manned.

One thing needs to be mentioned is that, the transition of domestic flying to the int'l side has been the plan all along, since all of our a/c are int'l capable, i.e. MD-88 will fly from ATL->CUN. So it may seem a significant reduce flying for other airlines, it probably not such a big hit in staffing for DAL.

As I posted in the "DAL April Classes" thread.You can take this for what it's worth, but from a very reliable source today: As of today, anyone with a conditonal offer of employment is in the door. After today, all interviewing will stop. The interview program for new hire F/As has already been stopped.

As of today, i was sent my e-ticket for the interview on March 24th. We will see if that still happens.

Interviews are continuing at least for now, that is for certain. I'll probably have more solid (and more reliable info than the hearsay posted so far on this thread) within a few days.

Anything up until that point is pure speculation and likely wrong.

I'll be looking forward to it. I interview on 3/27 and can say that I'm a little nervous after hearing this stuff today.

Hey all,

I'm a returning furloughee who is in the current Indoc class. Today we were addressed twice about the upcoming "hiatus" in hiring and new hire training. Looks like management is very focused on holding down rumors and speculation. Also, looks like new hire training will no doubt be put on hold sometime after the April classes. BB wasn't real specific as to exactly when but he did say that the cost of oil is causing a relook at the numbers, at least for awhile. International will stay the priority and domestic may see some short term reductions'changes. As for the "F" word, wasn't used and the mood was decidedly upbeat overall.

Having been through this before, unfortunately, I can attest it is the nature of the industry. Hopefully, the oil price mania will recede during or after the summer. That seem's to be DAL's expectations...and life will go on as previously planned.

Thanks for the direct word.

Although, in all fairness, there is a very high level of optimism (which some would call "kool-aid") during indoc.

I wouldn't imagine they would say the "f" word until they ask for our IDs back.

It sounds like you're using some analytical skills and keeping things in perspective, though, which is good.

Hey Buzz,

Welcome back, and thanks for the update.

Thanks RVR, actually very good to be back. Walking around the campus today felt right..and its been 6+ years. The same old haunts, the same crappy speedline. :)

Spliff, there is a fair amount of kool aid served up during indoc. I was consuming big time, last time. Today, the guys and girls were much more intuitive and sober. Very healthy overall, I think. I was also impressed with DAL's mature approach. Quiet professionalism, I would frame it.

Well said. I missed the part in your first post about you returning from furlough.

My DAL friend told me today DAL is the best airline with the brightest future and I need to get my stuff in ASAP. I told my wife, came home, and read all of the DAL threads....funny how things change

According to the Manager of Pilot selection, with whom I spoke this afternoon, the above statement is completely false. He said as of right now the plan announced today might lower the 08' hiring projection by 80 pilots or so. Now either he was pulling my leg or they haven't told him yet.:rolleyes: Guess they should also tell the New Hire Coordinator as he's been calling people today for APR classes.:rolleyes::rolleyes: He did say that their would some lulls in classes, but only to let recruitment and training to catch their breath.

Thanks for the update Deez. I sure hope Capt. Kraby continues what he's been doing. I think you'll get a lot more info from other guest speakers as the week goes by. On the other hand, Brian has been very good at disseminating info to us, especially dispelling rumors and such.

Just Asking...
 

Why would DAL continue hiring as planned when they announced on 18 Mar (ATLANTA-AP) that they are cutting capacity by an extra 5% and offering voluntary severance packages to 30,000 of its 55,044 full time employees?

Sorry, not trying to rain on anyones parade but maybe some DAL guys on here could help with the inside story.:confused:

Read the other threads. We are simply getting rid of some 2000 employees, 30.000 got the offer. I think (read hope) that we are just replacing the old FA with younger ones that pass the albow test - good for business!:D

Thanks. I'm not a new hire I just ran into some higher-ups at HQ yesterday.:)

As of right now the loss of domestic is offset by the increase in international leaving a net need for new-hires. I think they hire 30 pilots per 777lr.

You need to read a bit more carefully. Delta is cutting DOMESTIC flying 5% more then planned. They are increasing international capacity. A domestic airframe is staffed at 10 to 11 pilots per airframe. A international aircraft is staffed at 30 to 35 pilots per airframe for the 777 and 20 to 25 for 767ER's. This is because the aircraft require 3 or 4 man crews and have a much higher daily hour utilization.

Delta is seeking to cut only 2000 employees 700 of which will be management. Only 1300 frontline jobs are being removed.

Probably because we are increasing international capacity by 20%. Keep in mind that Int'l is a 3 or 4 pilot operation versus 2 per rotation.

We are at 40% international of total capacity currently, aiming for 51% when Hauenstein's current plan is implemented.

FWIW.

sailingfun and I just had a mind meld apparently

Spanky,
Also as bad as the news has been DAL is still growing its fleet this year. We are receiving 22 777's, 757's, and 737's this year and next year and now plan on parking 15-20 older domestic planes. So even without the higher crew ratio we may still need to continue hiring for now. Also we are still undermanned for pilots according to the last system bid and recently won a staffing grievance with the company that they are trying to correct with current hiring. Of course this can all change in a moment, but thats where we are for now.
Scoop

The last AE bid had 80 unfilled postions on the 767ER in NYC alone.

Hope they don't forget the past.
 

I think one of the reasons Pan Am went under is because they didn't have the domestic market to support their international flying. Hope DAL keeps that in mind. See comments below from another website.

Pan Am's founder, Juan Trippe, was the world's first airline tycoon, the imperial skygod, his company the aviation pioneer that came to be known as America's Imperial Airline. First to fly the Pacific, first across the Atlantic, first around the world—Pan Am was once one of the most glamorous and best-known global corporations. Its worldwide headquarters—the crown jewel—was on Manhattan's Park Avenue, the Pan Am Building, the world's largest corporate office building at the time. Pan Am had more international destinations than any other airline, flying to 113 cities in 81 countries, from Capetown to Moscow, Oslo to Buenos Aires. The other airlines at the time "were domestics, like Greyhound Bus," says Robert Gandt, author of the book Skygods: The Fall of Pan Am. Pan Am would have "no miserable lunches in places like Des Moines or Cincinnati or Boise. For them it would be sushi in Tokyo, petit déjeuner in Paris, tea in London."

That a great book that every airline pilot should read. The author ended up transitioning to Delta when they bought the 727s and A300's from Pan Am.

Don't forget all the malaria and yellow fever epidemic zones in Africa, South America, India and Pacific Rim. Be sure to pop all those malaria pills and take your diarrhea meds.

Compared to all that, I would love a good old fashioned hamburger in our "Des Moines".

Then perhaps Greyhound would be a more suitable career for you.

The above post is what I have been told to. Of course this can all change, but as of now, it will still be somewhere above 500 pilots for the year. Probably more than that.
I think that this is a temporary thing for DAL. It is not seen as permanent. We aim to go 50/50 on international and domestic. That means a lot more blue suits will come through the door. That is todays five year plan, not tomorrows. Nothing is a guarantee, but it is a lot better than the press is making this out to be. It is a necessary cut so that we do not loose billions like we did after the summer of 01. They are realizing the problem at least six months before they did last time. Dal still states that we may make money this year(We will see about that)
I truly cannot see DAL getting rid of 757's and 7ER as some posts have said. Maybe off of the domestic market, but I cannot see selling them. Park yes, but those are the airframes that we have built this business plan on.
Of further note, we are buying all of our recurrent sim time from UAL in DEN. It sucks, but with all of the new hires going to the ER there is not time in ATL. A two to three month hiatus in hiring will allow them to get rid of that bulge. It costs a lot to do training out of our complex. This also reduces costs.
If anything changes, I am sure that we will know, but for now, not much except there may not be 800 new hires this year.
Lets hope that they do not readjust this number again.

Absolutely, a point well taken. We better not forget this fact since we did buy the remnants of Pan Am as they were folding.

Our domestic feed is strong...everywhere except JFK. It isn't bad because of local outbound demand, but I'm guessing you will see us increase our domestic gauge into JFK sooner or later.

I did much better than Greyhound.

Call me a Pollyanna, but I do believe the press (and the naysayers on these forums) are overreacting for drama's sake.

The international plan is sound--if dollars are weak, then sell more tickets in foreign currency. Brilliant.

I'm not an expert, but most legacies slow hiring in the summer anyway so their sim instructors can fly the busy line, I think.

SWA??? ;)

Why? Is that where you wanted to go?

I would not go there right now either. This whole industry sucks.

JetPiedmont,
If thats the case then it sounds like you would also like DAL. After flying all over Europe and Asia for 12 years in the military I also enjoy domestic flying which is why I bid it. If I feel like flying International in a few years, I will bid that. Except for new hire getting the 767ER out of initial no one is forced to fly those routes. Although I assume your post was TIC, a lot of what you say is true and a lot of pilots do not want to fly to those places - but a lot do. That is the beauty of it all - as a new hire you can bid anything from MD-88 to international 767ER - options are good. :):) This can all change on a dime so lets all hope for the best. Scoop

That's the same reason I chose UPS and never applied to the domestic airlines like SWA, AirTran and Jetblue. The Legacy and cargo airlines have far better variety in the flying that they do. I would have like to have flown for Delta, but I was looking for more stability in my career.

I just wanted to say that those new hires who had no choice and got the 767ER - they were able to bid into any aircraft except the B777 2-3 months after starting class. So no one is locked into something they didn't want.