Are you @#$%ing me????

I am anxiously waiting for the chance to run into that SOB Stivala!!

 

You'll have to hunt for him downtown. Probably living under Kellner's desk.

 

Comment edited for content

 

C'mon guys - I want to keep this thread open. No more pillow talk, unless it's about us getting screwed soon.

CAL/UAL???

-300's from ATA???

It's verrrrrry quiet lately.

 

Delta Air Lines Inc. and its pilots agreed on a tentative contract to clear the way for a merger with Northwest Airlines Corp. that would create the world's largest carrier, people familiar with the talks said.

Any CAL guys/girls - any bets on how long it takes UAL&CAL to jump in bed. United MEC is not making any statements.

This is just like being in Vegas- without the "free" drinks.

Carpe Diem

 

Our MEC and the company have been completely silent, with the exception of the daily reminders that oil is expensive. What? You're kidding!

The only update I have as of late is changes to our LTD. (long term disability). Drum roll please........ charges for it will now be INCREASED by 72% effective Mar. 1st and deducted from paychecks starting next week. Thanks again Age 65 rule. You are serving me well.

And no, I will not wager a guess on merger deals. I have the sneaking feeling that because it took a while for the NWA/DAL thing to halfway resolve itself, that most of the CAL/UAL cards are all set up and waiting to be dealt. (note my new signature line on my comments) Fingers crossed!

 

72% ?? Try 335% !! 2nd yr FO rate went from $26 a month to $88. This is the biggest bull**** ever. THANKS OLD TIMERS once again. Wonder if we can get disability insurance up to age 60 somewhere else ????

 

Or perhaps have the option of only being insured to 60. I'd sign up for that in a minute.

 

*update*
From one of our CP's last week. None of the following are my words, and it has not been edited by me either:

The Company is looking for some of the ATA 757-300.

We may delay 7 B737 deliveries this year due to galley manufacturer difficulties.

May bid should be flat, COLAS will be offered.

Overall increase of about 17 airframes with current orders.

Plan is to grow the Airline at about 2-3% vs previous plan of 5-7%.

No more hiring for 2008. If we do resume, it will not be before early 2009.

Fuel costs have risen over $360 million from 1st quarter of 2007 to 1st quarter of 2008.

See current earnings release for specific numbers.

6 – 8 months for Government approval of DAL NWA merger.

We do not have a deal with UAL. We purposely have not spoken to them in order not to fuel the merger mania.

Current landscape is changing. The Company is reviewing all alternatives do ensure our continued success.

The Company is reviewing our Sky Team participation. We now have the flexibility to make other decisions.

The Company is looking at options to raise cash, to maintain a strong cash balance. The sale of COPA stock may be an option.

Continental’s intent is to remain Independent.

 

Expected Losses
Increase Pressure
For New Partnerships
By SUSAN CAREY and MELANIE TROTTMAN
April 19, 2008

Memo to beleaguered airline investors: Assume the brace position.

As record-high fuel prices and a slowing economy continue to inflict pain, four big carriers in the coming week are expected to post first-quarter losses, following two others this past week. This is pressuring airlines to partner up, despite the resulting labor strife, integration expenses and lack of certainty that jumbo mergers will be blessed by antitrust regulators.

More domestic-capacity reductions, airplane groundings and asset sales may be in the cards if UAL Corp., Delta Air Lines Inc., Northwest Airlines Corp. and US Airways Group Inc. report the red ink Wall Street forecasts.

AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines, reported a $328 million loss on Wednesday and warned of higher costs that analysts said could lead to a loss for the year. Continental Airlines Inc., which on Thursday posted an $80 million loss, said it continues to incur losses domestically and said it is seeing softness on its trans-Atlantic routes because of the weak dollar.

The dismal financial performance, increasing fuel expenses and concerns about liquidity have airline stocks trading near their 52-week lows. This past week, jet-fuel prices -- $30 a barrel higher than crude prices because of the currently inflated cost of refining oil into jet fuel -- were averaging about $142 a barrel, up nearly 20% from February. Standard & Poor's Corp. Friday lowered its ratings outlook for United and Continental to "negative" from "stable."

Last Monday's announcement of a planned merger of Delta and Northwest has sparked deal discussions by others determined to bulk up in order to cope with the challenging environment and avoid being marginalized. United and Continental recently signed confidentiality agreements to start talking more formally about a potential matchup, said people familiar with the matter.

UAL, parent of United, is talking about purchasing US Airways, according to other individuals with knowledge of that situation. Continental in the past couple of months had exploratory discussions with American. Delta negotiated with United before settling on Northwest. Some analysts say American might make a counterbid for Northwest or take a look at buying US Airways.

American said it will continue to monitor the industry landscape, but "it remains to be seen whether [consolidation] will produce benefits in the airline industry."

Investors didn't applaud the Delta-Northwest news. Instead, they drove down shares of those carriers for most of the past week. Troubling them were stiffening resistance by airline employees, the costs associated with a years-long integration process and the fact that Delta and Northwest said they would keep all their hubs open and not lay off any front-line workers.

US Airways, itself the result of a 2005 merger with America West Airlines, still has warring pilots preventing the company from integrating that labor group and reaping scheduling and fleet efficiencies a merger was supposed to bring.

The airline business has always been a cyclical, capital-intensive, highly competitive commodity industry vulnerable to factors ranging from thunderstorms to crowded airspace, exchange rates and terrorism.

These days, though, it is enough to make investors want to reach for the airsickness bags.

Write to Susan Carey at [email protected] and Melanie Trottman at [email protected]