Wordvomit...

 

Bond_

First lets re-establish that I do not speak on behalf the Republic Holding pilot group, the Teamsters, or anyone else. My ideas and statements are just that, mine. My name is screen name is KiloAlpha; not KiloAlpha, Republic Pilots, all regional pilots, et al.

Now that that has been established. I never said I liked the current wages at which we operate. I think they are **** poor. I am not happy to see MidEx pilots and employees in general losing their jobs. Jobs which, feed them, put a roof over their head, and allow them to take their children to the doctor.

In theory capitalism should have everything to do with our pay rates.. but in order for capitalism and the "american democracy" to succeed there are several principles that must be adhered to; one of which is morality. If all players involved in this game were behaving in a moral fashion, the result would likely be different. As I stepped away from my computer, I realized that I didn't clearly convey my thoughts; perhaps I still have not...

 

Thanks for answering the question. If you are right then the majors have dug their own grave. Even if BB's new ULCC gets off to a rocky start their costs are going to be so much lower that they can still easily succeed.

The majors will simply use this new style of airline as an excuse to beat more concessions out of their labor groups. If BB and the RAH management succeeds with their plan then the Frontier and Midwest aquisitions could go down as one of the biggest changes in the industry, like deregulation or the introduction of jets.

 

That is exactly what will happen, and you will see Republic wonderboys flying Airbuses for 50 seat wages. So much for a future beyond the regionals. Thanks Republic.

 

I am certainly not of the same "fiber". This man is destroying our careers. No sugar coating or justification from me.

 

Prop,
Just going from bag room talk back then, I think at least 50% were in favor of the Airtran takeover. Those in favor seemed to fit a certain profile: junior, 717 drivers already used to 4 day schedules, and commuters. The MD-80 drivers were mostly locals (and more senior) because of the out-n-back schedule. They knew those sweet out-n-backs would go away with Airtran.

For reasons I still don't understand, our MEC stood behind Tim and his stand alone plan. I was an 80 driver/commuter that was in favor of the AAI takeover, mostly because I thought Hoeksema's business plan was obsolete. If our MEC knew this RAH deal was coming down the pike, they surely would have thought differently. TPG usually builds companies up and sells them for a profit, not tear the company apart and then sell it cheap for a write off.

But the bottom line is this: we could have been 100% in favor of the AAI deal and wouldn't have mattered.

 

Wordvomit...

 

What's amusing here is that everyone is claiming the sky is falling due to Republic. Seriously? If anyone here honestly believes the nonsense spewing from the mouths of babes on APC, then you need a reality check. Based on the poo droppers logic, only Airtran, Southwest, and Frontier should exist since their fares are the cheapest, although they may not have the lowest costs. But, somehow (must be a miracle or something), everyone else seems to be surviving. Don't believe for minute that Republic Holdings will be able to stand against strong competition just because they have the lower aircrew costs. That is but just a wee drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. Look at the european market with Easyjet and Ryanair. How does BA, Lufthansa and everyone else do it over there?

 

Subsidy?

The pilot profession is just a growing cancer tumor. No one wishes for the current plight. These problems ought not be here. But, things are in motion right now with huge amounts of intertia. Everything from the growing regional trend, outsourcing of mainline jobs, Orbitz, Travelocity, JetAmerica, Skybus, quick growth that sucked in 400 hour pilots who accept low wages and locked in the so called "lifers" who became ultra reliant on the grip the seniority system took on them sticking them into a mediocre position long term, and more than anything THE DREAM TO FLY ABOVE ALL COSTS! is eating this profession up.

 

Well, if that's the case, there goes my point