I have believed this ever since NWA let us start flying for Delta. Now that multiple former NWA management people are working for Delta and now that NWA has sold all its Pinnacle shares, I believe they may merge by summer of 08. Does anyone agree with me and how do you all think this would affect the 11 regionals that fly for the 2?

 

I would love it, close Comair at CVG and move them to DTW!

 

You might have trouble finding a parking spot with all those gorgeous Slaabs on the tarmac

 

First rumors of United/Continental, then United/Delta now Delta/Northwest? My head is swimming

 

Mergers are never good for pilots. Sooner or later redundant routes are removed, fleets are reduced, and pilots are furloughed. If you don't think this affects you as a regional pilot, you have a lot to learn.

I challenge you to find a merger/buyout in the last 20 years that has been to the collective pilot group's advantage.

 

Historically this has been VERY true. However, what may be different today is that load factors are at ridiculous highs...system wide, there is simply not THAT much extra capacity left to trim. A little here and there, but not nearly so much as in the past.

 

True, however there is almost no fleet commonality between NWA and DL(I think the 75s are about all, and even those may use different engines), they both have fortress hubs in the eastern portion of the country. I don't think loads are going to remain as high as ticket prices go up. I think we'll start seeing a decline as a result.

However, they both rely heavily on regional carriers for domestic flights, and each carrier has a focus on a different part of the world for international flying. In those respects it could work.

 

I heard UAL/DL...I hate mergers. And I hate rumors.

 

I think you would see NWA in the East USA and the Pacific and DAL in the West and Europe. This is just a guess but maybe you would see CVG and MEM closed. Isnt the DC-9 and MD-88 a common type rating?

 

yes i do believe it is coming faster than we think. one of our BOD is moving over to delta, the ceo is from nwa, and nwa just sold us all of their outstanding shares in pinnacle airlines. not sure how this will affect everyone. i honestly don't see it having to much effect on most of us. our loads have been around 80percent. i am sure it is the same at almost every other regional that flies for delta and nwa. they don't share major hubs, and even their international flying is way different. they could be a good match.

i dont think it will have as big an impact on the regionals as it might have had, say 10 years ago. there is just to much business and even higher ticket prices wont slow it down. people will still buy the tickets, just like they buy gasoline, they will just be even more unhappy when they fly?? (is that even possible)?

thankfully this rumor was dispelled of a while ago.


i don't think mem or cvg will shut down in the case of a merger. both airlines are making big profit right now with what they have. i think there will be one parent company and both airlines will remain as they are. i hate to say it because i don't want to curse it but it may turn out to by like us and colgan. they have their niche and we have ours. everyone makes money, stockholders are happy.