I only wish the NW employees well. (best job I ever had)

I've been around plenty. I've "hoped" before...I've tried to keep the faith when reps said "we don't think they'll do XXX" but sometimes you just have to sit back and face reality.

They haven't modernized the fleet in years. Countless carries have--KLM, AF, Cargolux, Atlas, Polar, Kalitta, World, just to name a few--all fly 400s.

They are shrinking the fleet in the face of overwhelming evidence that there was money to be made in freight.

The ding-dong in charge of a new freighter (I forget his name) said the pax-conversion was "too heavy" to make it a profitable replacement.

That's laughable. It's executive-speak for we're not growing that part of the business.

Again, I wish all NW employees the best, but I wouldn't hold out hope that your management is seriously entertaining the idea of growing the business, at any level. Steenland's old lady has probably already spent his merger money three or four times over.

I think most of the lower third of the NW seniority list would be better served thinking about their own exit strategy than wondering whether the cargo division is going to be around in the future.

 

The interesting part, when you look at the cargo "lift" capacity (below deck) of a merged DAL and NWA, it is considerably larger than FedEx or UPS; I would be a bit nervous too. It was long ago said that the cargo in the belly of AA's widebodies paid the costs on each flight, I haven't been over to AMR lately, but I Imagine AA Cargo is still a sizeable portion of their income.

 

Cargo did well under Anderson when he was at NWA. If that continues, cargo will hopefully grow with the merger. The rumor is that Delta has the STC for cargo doors on the 767 and that will be the replacement. There is also talk of converting the 400. Nobody really knows and it is all speculation but cargo can pay for itself if managed correctly. UPS and FEDEX made ANC a major hub so life can continue up here....we'll see.

 

Thats exactly what i think is going to happen. Also i would guess a freighter hub out of ATL. The cargo ops are being overhauled to and its already starting to pay off.

 

I understand it's official--NW cargo 747s gone within 12 months.

(not gloating)

 

I heard this was announced by either Anderson or Bastian during their Asian tour last week. I have not found anything in writing to back it up however. Asian cargo ops will now be underbelly cargo for passenger flights supposedly.

 

The operation was profitable under NWA, perhaps DAL pays too much. If I see a 747-200 with the callsign of "Compass" I won't be surprised.

 

i remember one of the wilder rumours floating around Champion during the final innings was that NWA was going to put the freighters on CCPs certificate,those Whales would have looked good in blue !

 

When I interviewed with NWA, I shared the bus with two crews on the 747-200. Both Captains were discussing how the Cargo operation at NWA was bleeding money. They even joked "maybe DAL can turn it around" and everyone laughed. (this was pre-merger announcement)

-Fatty

 

It was over 180 mil in the red last year.