Is this cap you speak of 120 76 seaters for DCI? If that is the case DCI has 51 76 seaters (not including Mesaba, Compass) as of Oct. 2008. Even if you include Mesaba and Compass, it is still less than 120 I believe.

 

We can't possibly be UNDER the cap - just add up the numbers. I'll use the numbers after all planes are transferred and delivered by next summer.

Mesaba - 51 900s
Compass - 36 175s
Pinnacle - 16 900s
Comair - 13 900s
Skywest - 14?
Shuttle - 16?

If you add those up, we're clearly over. Even if the Skywest and Shuttle numbers are wrong, before even counting them we're at 116. I know Skywest and Shuttle operate more than 4 76 seat a/c.

 

You said we are already over the cap. We are not. Here are the numbers right now according to APC and Deltanet.

Mesaba - 35
Compass - 31
Comair - 13
Skywest - 17
Shuttle - 5
Pinnacle - 12

That is a total of 113. So which are you talking about, over the limit now or later on?

 

Semantics... bad choice of words. We WILL be over the cap. That's the point.

 

I'm not sure you'll see DAL sign anymore long term deals with DCIs.

 

I wouldn't count on that. Unless a certain pilot group is willing to overlook it.

 

Gee really? I'm just stating that as of the current plans, we will be over the cap. I have no doubt Delta will grieve it or DL mgmt will find a way around it.

 

in case anybody was wondering....92 more furloughs announced today at Comair

 

I'm sorry to hear that. I don't wish that on anyone.

 

My point about no whipsaw games with the 170/175's was that Bedford has tried to avoid any direct competition between his 175's and someone else's. In the past, this has meant maintaining a monopoly on the aircraft type in the US. When NW/Compass acquired the fleet type, BB stayed away from the red tails. Whereas there are sometimes 3 or more regional lift providers flying CRJ's for a given major simultaneously, there have not been simultaneous operations of the 170/175 anywhere (except during the acquisition of MidAtlantic a/c).

As for route coverage, the whole point of Delta's plan to reduce regional lift is to not have regionals covering as many routes. Certain S5 routes may be covered by DC-9's, by compass A/c, or just go away all together. Likewise, some Compass routes will go away, or be covered by other mainline A/C.

Again, this is just my gut feeling. For all I know RAH could buy the new Delta, or even the DOT and FAA next week (the government is so far behind in debt that it could happen...). Any contract can be terminated at any time...it is just the cost that varies. IF RAH were given a choice by Delta to either have the CHQ contract cancelled (and S5 fleet permanently stopped at 16 planes), or to have the 16 S5 175s go away early and the CHQ contract remain intact, you may be surprised at what Bedford would chose. Those 145's do bring in quite a bit of revenue.