Tight economy and high oil prices - do you think they'll force MORE concessions?
 

Just curious what many of you think will happen during this "downturn" Do you think they'll try and force more wage concessions at the regional and major level? It seems they've gutted things so much since 9/11 they can't seem to go much lower. Will pilots at carriers faced with the possiblilty of Chapter 7 take deeper cuts and lower the bar more to hold onto a dying carrier? The race to the bottom seems to continue. Hopefully a much more optimistic outcome will result with less capacity and a return to profitability for most carriers. I'm not normally a doom and gloom person so I hope we can all stay strong and maintain and improve the pay and work rules wherever we are. Good luck everyone.

you cant take out whats not there. There isnt room at the regionals to take pay cuts.

I don't think any legacy or regional airline will take paycuts at this point. You'll see the Airtrans, fronteirs and air midwests do it. But as superpilot said, there is NO room at regionals. I for one would gladly burn down our corporate offices if they asked for pay cuts.

Legacy guys shouldn't put up with it either. Frankly, I would rather my airline go out of business, than make this industry even MORE shoddy than it already is.

there is about 1300 guys and gals here at pinnacle that agree with you.

The way everybody has slowed down, there has to be a turnaround coming soon. If not and oil comes climbing, by next summer there won't be any traveling, so I think (and hope) that by new years oil should start trickling back down.

Really? Just ask what DAL thinks of Comair.

Just as we remember Lorenzo and his tactics, I hope in the future we remember how Delta took an outstanding company and plucked each feather it had one by one (Comair.)

i'll bring the matches, you bring the can of gas.....


(i cant afford the gas)

I think we wil see several airlines go into Ch 7 in the next 12 months. The surviving airlines will then be able to raise rates to show a profit, even with fuel at a crazy price. Customer service will come back (food, no checked bag fee, etc.) and flying will be much more of an enjoyable experience for the public. Fewer flight will also lead to fewer delays, less crowded airports and happier customers.

Once Israel finishes bombing Iran, the USA, being the suckers we are, will move in to rebuild the Iranian oil fields. Inventory will increase and prices will go back down to around $100 a barrel.

In 2010, when oil is back down to $100 a barrel, the price of fuel will seem cheap given the $8/gallon we paid in the summer of '09. The public will then start flying again and we will repeat the cycle.

Oh- I forgot about the original question: No more concessions. Only Ch. 7's.

Well, we'll see how things pan out here domestically in terms of our economy, that might dictate whether pilots agree to more concessions. The tough times have not begun to set in for many of us, but at the end of the day, having a job is better than having no job I suppose.

My great grand-father, who died just short of 101 years old back in '82 when I was 5 yrs. old, had some interesting stories about life during the Great Depression...he went 6 yrs. w/out work. When work resumed he walked 5 miles to work/5 miles back each day, worked in a factory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He bought his first vehicle when he was 65 yrs. old.

Most of us don't realize how good we've had it so far. Most of us have been very fortunate. Personally, I don't want to see concessions. Just don't like 'em...pilots have done enough to rescue this industry while management has resorted to pathetic form letters to the public whining and complaining about the high cost of jet fuel. Rather than being innovative and earning those big bucks they make, they've proven themselves to be completely devoid of any good leadership.

With that said, if the economy gets worse than anticipated, it will be interesting to see how views might change regarding concessions. Time will tell.