Whacker77

I know there are more guys on furlough today than there were one year ago, but it's good to know the airline industry was able to survive 2009. Let's not forget how bad things looked in February and March of this past year. How many times did we hear stories about liquidation for one of the majors as a possibilty? But for the grace of God, we managed to avoid another depression.

Now as we start 2010, several of the regionals have begun to recall pilots and a few are even mentioning hiring. That doesn't do much for mainline guys out on the street, but at least the end of the world didn't swallow the industry whole. That seemed to be a possibilty nine months ago. As a lowly CFI, at least I can imagine a scenario where employment is possible.

Maybe there will be another shock to the system that sends things into another tailspin, but it seems like some sort of a recovery in the airline sector is on the way. Although capacity has been substantially reduced, load factors are very high and airlines have begun to place orders with Boeing and Airbus again. Wall Street has taken note of this as many analysts have upgraded airline stocks as whole.

I know there are some tough days ahead, especially for those waiting on a recall notice, but at least the industry is still standing as 2009 closes. That was in doubt for a while.

Bucking Bar

You are too optimistic. 2009 ain't over yet.

HIREME

I hope we can be optimistic, but with another terrorist attack narrowly averted it certainly brings to the forefront the reality of our world and workplace. We are still one war/attack/crisis from another tailspin. I hope we can see smoother sailing and brighter days ahead with many retirements, growth of majors, and shrinkage of regionals....Don't see it going 3 for 3, but we can hope.

CALTanker

Doomsday gets you no where. Innovation and hard work are the mantra. Many aviation analysts see three carriers going forward. Sky, Oneworld and Star. The regionals will feed the global Mega-carriers international operations. The Low cost model will remain with AAI, LUV and JBLU et al.

This is evidenced by the many changes and attitude displayed by the Legacy Airline leaders. Relaxing of scope and Harvard degrees will forever change the paradigm.

Dirty Rat

You may have survived but 400 pilots from Midwest Airlines did not. Replaced by low wages and those willing to undercut us and do our jobs for less than half of what we were making. Yep, it was a banner year for the airline industry. I hope BB loses his shirt this year.

HalinTexas

Let's not forget those that lost careers/jobs in 2008 are still struggling to replace them.

xjsaab

Get your scope protection in order at the majors, get your flying back from the regionals!!!!!! Merge the senority lists! If the ticket was purchased from a major the pilots should be from that airline. Not a sub contractor. Only you folks at the majors can change this. But I bet in 10 years nothing will change, sad but true.

lakehouse

The name of this thread, should be the official slogan of quite a few airlines

ToiletDuck

I like how you work that into every message. Happy New Years

LeeFXDWG

Whacker77,

I'd change your name unless you want all us UA guys to think you work on Whacker drive.

Anyway, I don't share your optimistic outlook. ATI continues to expand which will be the mechanism for "RJing" international flying for the US major airlines. Just watch the current Aer Lingus issue at UA as well as the recent JAL situation and the UA, CAL, ANA ATI request..........

I don't know for sure, but I bet UA won't be flying aircraft in the void created should JAL go purely domestic.....they don't have the airframes much less the pilots. Yeah, they may pull back from one market to push up in the Pacific, but it is a net gain of zero.

Let's all wait and see if congress really does do something regarding industry safety trends and attempts to fix the situation. That along with other issues such as min experience and pay for any 121 carrier.

I'll add on to that and say the congress should include a liability clause for any major carrier that offers service for hire/markets any flight that they know will be completed by a "partner" that operates under another certificate.....that would change the tune of many majors if they had to insure the RJ "partner" they already guaranteed a profit, bought the gas, bought/leased the planes in many cases, etc............... Starts to diminish the so called advantage of the outsourcing.

One can only hope!!!

If you're curious, 97 UAL hire on voluntary furlough. Why, the company sucks, the industry sucks, my Nat'l union has the foresite of a moron, etc., etc....

Frats,
Lee