What's Up at Comair?
 

I see they are starting to interview for classes. How does the future look. Is Delta still pulling back in Cinncinatti? Did they get raped on the contract or just not yet. Hiring for attrition or growth? Anyone inside with input, thanks.

Sold
 

I work in Orlando for comair and I just found out along with a few others from a reliable source that Comair was sold last week to Republic Airways.

According to our intra-net site, hiring is for higher than expected attrition. There is also an offer for July and August CRJ captain vacation buy-backs. Eligible captains have the option of keeping their vacations, re-bidding for a later 2006 vacation or selling that vacation time back to the company and flying a full schedule for that month.

The buy-back offer came because of higher than expected flying for Delta in July and August.

I have a NJ interview this month. Hopefully, I'll increase that number.

Good luck!

Good luck with the interview!

Good Luck Slim thanks for the info.

How is it working there? Any truth to the republic thing?

i have a feeling that comair will be sold. I think that the majors are realizing that it is better to not own a regional so they may have more leverage on cost controls at the regional level. Continental is doing same bs to expressjet. wonder if amr will soon do same to eagle?

The company and the F/As are still in negotiations. Pay cuts for the pilots and the F/As don't happen untill the F/As sign off on pay cuts worth $8.9 million. If they agree on $6.5 million (my arbitrary figure), then the company is expected to return to the pilot and mechanic groups for additional relief to make up the shortfall.

Any sale to Republic is unconfirmed right now. There's lots of speculation. A sale by Delta would be welcome news. There are some who never wanted to be purchased by Delta to begin with, including me. Being rid of Delta won't solve all Comair's problems overnight, but would be a great first step. Such a sale, however, would make Comair a more active participant in the race to the bottom...not necessarily a good thing.

Fly safe!

Let us pretend that Republic does buy Comair. Could you see them keeping the pilot group or getting rid of them(if the contract is up) just to have the certificate and planes?

I believe per ALPA's contract if the certificate and planes go, the pilots have to go too. If this does go thru, which it won't IMO, look for them to do the same thing to Comair that Skywest did with ASA.

Bingo. Diversifying regionals is an excellent strategy, gives maximum whipsaw leverage. There are only two protections from that:

1) One seniority list per banner (ie ALL regional pilots working under XYZ mainline banner are on one list, and maybe that list includes the mainline pilots too).

2) Industry standard minimum pay and work rules.