Originally Posted by HercDriver130

First .....NEVER say never....

Second..... WHO says this flying belongs at mainline.... NOT mainline or they would be flying it.... get a grip this industry has been in constant change for 30 years and will be for the next 30..... HALF the problem is calling companies like RAH...SKW.... et al ..... REGIONAL...they are not regional and havent been for some time..... the industry has changed and you can not nor will they put the proverbial GENIE back in the bottle... does that make it right... who knows... what I do know is what we have today.... and before you flame me I was flying 40 seat turbo props over 13 years ago... when these companies WERE regional in nature...... they arent anymore because mainline and MAINLINE pilots did not want it.......

so MR XJT..... since you hope it puts us all out of a job... I will expect to see you handing in your resignation the day merger goes thru........

Originally Posted by seattlepilot

This is turning into an fleeinfo.com type of argument. Original poster asked about DL/NW merger, not what to call an airline like RAH, SKW, etc.
Looking at the latest press releases it's obvious pilot groups from DL and NW have a way to integrate the seniority list from both companies.
There is absolutely no fleet commonality between two operators except 757s. (even at that we have different engines).
So, i am not sure a classic merger would work, but something like US Air - America West type is more likely. Take a look at the regional flying after that merger and you can see that regional carriers operated as business as usual, except Air Wizz which invested in USAirways..
RAH has no exposure to NW and minimal to DL. The regionals that will be effected the most from a potential NW/DL merger are the ones owned by their respective majors. Expect some consolidation on that department, including a sale of one or two.. Both DL and NW will need to raise cash to support this merger and sale of a regional (can you say Comair) would be nice cash revenue..
Also, expect some investment from KLM/AirFrance group on this deal..

Originally Posted by TwinTurboPilot

last I saw RAH paid more than Jet Blue and USairways do on the 190. after a few years of course and a much higher top out, this is of course on a 175 not a 190 which we do not have yet and hopefully never will.

Originally Posted by Lighteningspeed

Where are you getting your figures from? I doubt RAH pays more than JetBlue or USAirways.

E 190 belongs in the mainline and it is very unlikely that they will be flown by Regionals. Most majors have a scope clause that prevents anything bigger than E175s or CRJ900s to be flown by regionals.

Originally Posted by Joeshmoe

Perhaps they do belong in the mainline but scopes used to state that regionals cannot fly 70 seat jets either with folks saying they never will. I remember hearing it. Like Herc said, NEVER say never.

Originally Posted by Lighteningspeed

I wrote, "unlikely" not Never. At anycase, scope clause as it stands prevents E190 to be flown by RAH or anybody else. I hope it stays that way. And for all you folks at the regionals sake too. Otherwise, we will all be stuck at regionals flying bigger and bigger jets at Regional sub pay.

Originally Posted by HercDriver130

Here is a thought for all of us..... who is the real villian that we arent paid more..... the FLYING freaking public who buy airline tickets like they are at walmart...... I would bet that 75% of who to fly is based on price... the other on convenience.

Unlikely... probably... but all of these companies.... SKW...RAH...ASA...etc... have continually pushed the upper limit on aircraft size. I also believe a merger or two on the "regional, national....major" level is coming and you just might be surprised WHO is buying WHOM!!!

Originally Posted by Lighteningspeed

I disagree. There will be a major consolidation of regionals, but the ones least affected by this merger will be the ones owned by majors because NWA likes to have controls over its regionals. NWA has already formed Mesaba Compass Holding corporation to operate Mesaba and Compass. The ones that will be most afected by this merger initially will be the ones not owned by NWA or DAL.