I spent nearly ten years at Express and it was a miserable place to work. As far as regionals go, I don't know if any regionals are any better; they're all just varying levels of abuse and lousy pay. Wherever you end up, move on as quickly as possible.

Regarding Express flying for Southwest, I'd heard that rumor for at least the last four years; since the IPO. I don't put any faith in those rumors. I don't think it fits Southwest's gig and furthermore the RJs need high yield markets. Mexico is good yield and fair loads but is such a departure from Southwest's model I don't see it happening. There are a lot of great growth opportunities for Southwest inside the US.

CAL's capacity purchase agreement is their largest debt obligation: 1.34 billion dollars in 2006; with nearly 100 million of that to meet Express' contractual profit margin. (AWST 27Mar06 "Cash Calf" p.48) Continental would be foolish to not: 1. renegotiate more favorable terms for feed capacity 2. farm out feed flying to cheaper inferior products like Mesa or Chataqua. Bethune cared about the quality of the product; current management is all numbers.

I believe Express will end up flying for another carrier, flying will decrease at CAL, but that additional flying will not be JetBlue or Southwest.

 

VegasBoy,
I guessed you were ex-XJT from your aircraft list. I was at XJT and I'm curious to know where you're at now. Also still interested in getting those MD-11 manuals. [email protected]

 

Sorry you had a bad experience at XJT. Im there right now and love it.

Ive got a third option: What if airline management charged the flying public what it actually cost to fly their increasingly large a$$es around instead of whipsawing labor and pitting one airline against the other in this great race to the bottom.

But I guess as long as people demand filet mignon, TVs at every seat and a limo to the airport for $99 coast to coast there will always be a company out there ready to trim a little bit more to provide it.

 

Welcome to the Southwest fuel hedging program! But when that runs out we should see the industry level out more as far as ticket prices go. However, another rumor to the industry upheaval is the industry wide labor break that is occuring.

 

Having worked at XJT, they have a good management team that have ideas for the 69 planes already in place (which can't be disclosed,,,,if I did I would have to kill you). XJT is good atmosphere to work in, all groups get along and support each other.

They are moving out of the Continental Building downtown and relocating to the airport in September in their own building (truly a separate company from CAL now). CAL and XJT still have a amicable relationship, and must work together since XJT does most of the regional flying.