Who can make ATL Flying happen?
 

Disclaimer: Please no flame-throwing here...Discussion only would be appreciated! Specifically - we all know the -900 is not an RJ...so don't beat a dead horse.

I admittedly have an incredible lack of any business-sense. I never enjoyed the "b-word" and just want to fly Airplanes...which leads to the question:

Who can make the new Flying (39 -900's??) for DAL in ATL actually happen? MAG, from my understanding, has the aircraft but not the Pilots, RAH can't handle what they're chewing now, and SKW has no orders for -900's and may have difficulty finding the Pilots as well with Midwest-growth as it is. And is ASA really a player under Jerry? Who are the real-players here now that DAL is out of bankruptcy, and in what time-frame will the bid go into effect?

Where did you find that 39 -900's were up for grabs? I'm ignorant to the situation.

However...the two most probable guesses would be SKW/ASA or Comair. I don't see MAG actually picking up too much more DAL flying. I also don't see RAH jumping on the -900 platform although I know they'd love to throw 175's on to the Delta codeshare (and yes...170 rates will be hotly contested on this contract...whenever it actually comes out).

I've heard 170 rumors from a few XJT'ers but who knows. It'd be a smart move for them to diversify fleet's so they can bid on the 70 seat sector and it would probably help the branded flying out if that continues to be successful.

Hell, at this point, with Delta Regionals...Big Sky could start flying -900's next week. It's all up in the air.

SAAB, help us out here - does CAL's scope-clause prevent anything greater than 50 seats??

Oh...I probably should have expanded. Please keep in mind this is ALL HEARSAY from what I heard from XJT guys. But...supposedly, there's two certificates running around at XJT. If they can put 70 seaters one cert and 50 seaters on the other cert...they'd be able to beat the CAL scope. But, again, I don't know the particulars...this was all explained to me in line at McDonald's on the B Concourse in IAH.

DAL pilots will fly them. Just watch. . . . . IT's a cost effective airplane, so DAL can pay pilots what they are worth. BUT, they have to be careful too, because if they start flying them and paying pilots more, DAL's regional partners will have to up the cost of contract flying . . . . because the regional partner (pilots) will start *itching and moaning. we get paid $19-$20/hr year 1 and maybe $30-$35/yr 2. DAL salary will most probably be $35-$40/hr year 1 and $55-$60+/HR. Year#2. So who is going to jump off the cliff first?

Could this be the turn around for all of us?

DAL themselves have made it public knowledge though that they are contracting out domestic-flying in favor of the more lucrative international routes - they have been busily expanding their international flying in the last year or so...they are the self-proclaimed "fastest growing international carrier."

I just find it a bit hard to think DAL mainline will take up that flying - number one, there is a bid out for it, and number two, they aren't attempting domestic expansion...quite the opposite??

That would be the best outcome possible...but I'm rarely that optimistic. That would...however...have a ripple effect across the entire industry. But, it'd be nice to see some of this flying go to mainline. Fun fact...48% of DAL's domestic flying last year was done by regionals.

Delta may be realizing that it struggles to compete in the domestic market, but has a significant revenue advantage with international. Less competition and they're a part of that huge international alliance. It's probably a smart move as long as the contracts (and airlines they go to) don't kill them.

honestly, there is an airline that can make it happen, and its pinnacle. I say this if the base is atlanta. There are a ton of commuters from down south and the 900 would go very senior. the rest of our staffing would take a hit, but that would be good for me in DTW. The talk is that we would get a LAX base, but if we get atl, it will be staffed properly with very senior pilots