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-   -   The future of the industry (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/76081-future-industry.html)

Timbo 07-27-2013 05:34 AM


Originally Posted by RJSAviator76 (Post 1452541)
B.S. right back at ya. Here we go again.... blame EVERYONE and everything else. However, the 'YES' votes speak for themselves, and you can try spinning them whichever way you want.

Some things should be sacred. Airline pension gutted? Your flying outsourced against you? Suspension of Service or the so-called "ALPA nuke" as George E. Hopkins terms it. Again, some things are or should be sacred and/or contested and challenged at every step. I was an ALPA pilot when all this was going down and was absolutely disgusted with how every pilot group folded like a house of cards. I also saw the insane amount of greed by the older, senior pilots, well before the Age 65 rule.

I was laughing my head off at the whole "Taking it back" bull. While our pensions and scope were being gutted along with some paycuts going to 50%.... ALPA was valiantly fighting for TWIC. Seriously?!?

As I said, nothing is sacred to ALPA or US airline pilots. ALPA's 'red line' is a flexible, and easily adjustable target... just threaten them with something. It's embarrassing.

So before you start defending yourself again with how your hands are tied due to RLA, remember... some things in life should be sacred and worth fighting for even if you **** people off. RLA hasn't even been truly challenged in recent history. I'd say gutting the pensions, giving away your flying to 90-seat RJ operator, not to mention cutting some groups' pay by as much as 50% would qualify for a major dispute under RLA, and if not... make a stand and challenge the almost 100-year law! Nope.... house of cards, instead. That's the no-balls part.

Try again.

Exactly. Nobody at ALPA National is willing to call a nation wide SOS, give up their $500,000 salary, paid retirement plan, medical plan and risk going to jail, over something as trivial as -your- pay rates and retirement plans. It would be nice if ALPA National Pres. lost his retirement and took a 42% pay cut but...nah, let's not go there!

I've been watching this slow motion train wreck ever since Bush 1 helped Frank Lorenzo take CAL, then Eastern apart. Franky smooth talk showed all the other Airline CEO's that if you can buy enough politicians, you can do what ever the fk you want, and get away with it. That was the time for a National SOS, before there were very many large foreign carriers who could replace us.

Right now, the sword hanging over ALPA's head is Cabotage. There will be no SOS, or any other large scale job actions, because if there were, in about a NY Second, our Politicians will give away the rest of our flying to the highest foreign bidder.

That's why National's only strategy now is; Constructive Appeasement.

Don't rock the boat, or else!

WARich 07-27-2013 06:21 AM

Soooooo, back to the original question.....The future of the airline industry? Will the regionals be forced out, or forced to pay more with the new ATP rules?

johnso29 07-27-2013 07:47 AM

Regionals will shrink dramatically. The new FTDT regs combined with retirements at the majors will cripple them. Not only will they be losing massive efficiencies due to the new FTDT regs, they'll also have a huge lack of qualified applicants.

JoeyMeatballs 07-27-2013 08:47 AM

^ This, hopefully everyone who wants to move on is able.

Lab Rat 07-27-2013 09:31 AM


Originally Posted by johnso29 (Post 1452601)
Regionals will shrink dramatically. The new FTDT regs combined with retirements at the majors will cripple them. Not only will they be losing massive efficiencies due to the new FTDT regs, they'll also have a huge lack of qualified applicants.

Question: in light of the new FTDT regs, what are the chances the majors will operate less flights but with bigger aircraft between given city pairs? In other words, the customer will have less flights to choose from but the flights that are available will be on larger aircraft with more seats than in the past.

galaxy flyer 07-27-2013 09:34 AM

Probably pretty high.

GF

Lab Rat 07-27-2013 09:37 AM


Originally Posted by galaxy flyer (Post 1452638)
Probably pretty high.

GF

I agree with you.

johnso29 07-27-2013 10:01 AM


Originally Posted by Lab Rat (Post 1452637)
Question: in light of the new FTDT regs, what are the chances the majors will operate less flights but with bigger aircraft between given city pairs? In other words, the customer will have less flights to choose from but the flights that are available will be on larger aircraft with more seats than in the past.


Originally Posted by galaxy flyer (Post 1452638)
Probably pretty high.

GF

I agree as well. Delta is already going that way.

johnso29 07-27-2013 10:02 AM


Originally Posted by johnso29 (Post 1452601)
Regionals will shrink dramatically. The new FTDT regs combined with retirements at the majors will cripple them. Not only will they be losing massive efficiencies due to the new FTDT regs, they'll also have a huge lack of qualified applicants.


Originally Posted by JoeyMeatballs (Post 1452625)
^ This, hopefully everyone who wants to move on is able.

I hope so too.

av8tordude 07-27-2013 11:02 AM

Living outside of U.S. made me realized just how much we live in a bubble not realizing what's happening outside...

Due to the signifigance shortfall of new pilot entering the career field, the regionals, NOT the majors, will have a problem with hiring. Does that mean the majors will reduce regional capacity? Maybe, BUT maybe not!

Considering the U.S. is not the only country with pilots who may meet the FAA new requirements, other countries have qualified pilots who are also seeking employment globally. Under the H1B visa program, if an U.S. employer is unable to find and hire a professional employee for an unfilled professional position, said company may temporarily hire a foreign national from outside the U.S. under the H1B visa program.

I remember when I use to fly for a 135 freight company in early yr 2000, 30% of its pilots were foreign nationals working under the H1B visa program because the company was unable to attract and hire legal resident/citizens to fill pilot positions due to the hiring wave that was occurring at the regional/major airlines.

Some scenarios may happen if the regional airlines decides to exploit the H1B visa program.

1. If they are able to find and hire qualified foreign national under the H1B visa program, then regional salaries will remain as they are. Majors retain routes and infrastructure. Everything remains status quo.

2. If regional airlines can not attract foreign national pilots, Regional airlines lose flying and majors lose routes to their competition.

So whats the business solution...

How I see, If regional airlines want retain their current fleet size, and the majors retain the current route structure, the majors will have to increase their regional partners departure fee. The regional airlines will inevitable have to increase their salaries to attract qualified pilots (whether resident/citizens or foreign nationals), OR...Majors reduce regional flying and obtain bigger aircraft while reducing flight frequencies.

Now I know there will be some that will say the regionals will not exploit the H1B program, but it was also be said the majors would take back flying from the regional partners. Currently facts do not support this trend. In fact, its the opposite, Approx 50% of Delta domestic routes are flown by regional airlines compared to 30% in 2005 and United just announced increase regional flying.

Something to ponder...


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