SkyWest and AirTran
11-08-2009, 11:17 PM
#61
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2009
Position: 757 right seat
Posts: 315
tucson. i took the last of the midwest connect painted birds down there last week. that is, i took it there to get painted. i do not know if they're painting them directly into that air tran picture paint job or if they're using other planes for that.
oh there was a brand new, still green, q400 at our hangar in tucson too. don't know what that was for???
oh there was a brand new, still green, q400 at our hangar in tucson too. don't know what that was for???
Last edited by PA31; 11-08-2009 at 11:22 PM. Reason: grammar
11-15-2009, 04:39 PM
#62
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2006
Position: Captain
Posts: 178
From the Q nA
Q: If SkyWest will fly routes we currently operate with B-717s. How does that help us? Does that mean a reduction in flying for us?
This agreement will not reduce AirTran flying,flying; in fact it’s quite the opposite. SkyWest CRJ-200s will free up our 717s to operate to other markets with better profit potential. In the next two months, AirTran will operate nearly 2,000 more departures than we did last November/December, an almost 5 percent increase. Our stage length and block hours (hours flying) will increase at a greater rate – our block hours will increase by more than 8 percent over the next two months versus last year. As I mentioned before, because of this partnership, we will be able to add new and exciting destinations in the near future.
Q: Does this growth create more opportunities at AirTran?
Absolutely, due to the growth we just discussed, we will be sending recall letters today for a number of pilots who, for various reasons, chose to or had to pass on the last recall, in order to fill a January training class. It is likely we will be adding crew members in other areas as well to support this new partnership.
This agreement will not reduce AirTran flying,flying; in fact it’s quite the opposite. SkyWest CRJ-200s will free up our 717s to operate to other markets with better profit potential. In the next two months, AirTran will operate nearly 2,000 more departures than we did last November/December, an almost 5 percent increase. Our stage length and block hours (hours flying) will increase at a greater rate – our block hours will increase by more than 8 percent over the next two months versus last year. As I mentioned before, because of this partnership, we will be able to add new and exciting destinations in the near future.
Q: Does this growth create more opportunities at AirTran?
Absolutely, due to the growth we just discussed, we will be sending recall letters today for a number of pilots who, for various reasons, chose to or had to pass on the last recall, in order to fill a January training class. It is likely we will be adding crew members in other areas as well to support this new partnership.
11-15-2009, 06:27 PM
#63
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Posts: 903
Good news if it turns out AirTran will sent out secondary recall notices.
Good buddy is still at Avantair, couldn't leave on the first recall because of the 1 year training contract. He's ready to jump ship to get back to the airline flying - as well as being based at home.
Good buddy is still at Avantair, couldn't leave on the first recall because of the 1 year training contract. He's ready to jump ship to get back to the airline flying - as well as being based at home.
11-16-2009, 07:25 AM
#66
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 420
Two days ago, I just repositioned a Midwest CRJ from MKE to ROW (Roswell, NM) for painting. The midwest plane was painted in our neutral Skywest paint. White fuselage with red/blue tail. The Skywest maintenance person I left the aircraft with in ROW said that the aircraft was only getting a new paint job on the tail and they were moving the N number a little further forward on the fuselage. (3 day job at most) The new tail paint is going to be neutral Skywest, red and blue, just updated a bit.
He specifically said the plane was being painted this way so it could operate in all three partner systems that we fly in - United, Delta, AirTran.
He said he had no information about any Skywest aircraft to be repainted in AirTran colors. They would not be able to be used throughout the rest of our system if they had that AirTran paint scheme.
Note: for 3hrs 10min, the FO and I had to smell that left over chocolate chip cookie smell, but after thoroughly searching the galley, found no left over cookies. We did find one remaining Diet Coke can though. It made for a long, hungry flight.
He specifically said the plane was being painted this way so it could operate in all three partner systems that we fly in - United, Delta, AirTran.
He said he had no information about any Skywest aircraft to be repainted in AirTran colors. They would not be able to be used throughout the rest of our system if they had that AirTran paint scheme.
Note: for 3hrs 10min, the FO and I had to smell that left over chocolate chip cookie smell, but after thoroughly searching the galley, found no left over cookies. We did find one remaining Diet Coke can though. It made for a long, hungry flight.
11-16-2009, 05:58 PM
#67
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: WB Bunkie
Posts: 1,246
The ATN MEC's response:
Fellow Pilots,
AirTran has just announced an agreement with SkyWest for CRJ feeder service into Milwaukee. Under the terms of the deal, SkyWest will initially operate five CRJ-200 aircraft–in SkyWest livery–between Pittsburgh (PIT), St. Louis (STL), Canton/Akron (CAK), Indianapolis (IND), Des Moines (DSM), Omaha (OMA) and Milwaukee (MKE). Any additional service resulting from this agreement is not yet known.
We are concerned by our management’s move to shift flying to another carrier, even as growth at mainline AirTran has stagnated for nearly two years. This affects all of us, as pilot career progression could be slowed by such outsourcing.
Furthermore, it’s unclear how the utilization of RJs in 2010 would be any more successful or profitable than it was to use them in 2003, when the company ended AirTran Jet-Connect. What is abundantly clear, unfortunately, is that our contract allows management great latitude to give your job to other airlines, including non-union SkyWest.
We believe today’s announcement is an affront to AirTran pilots, as well as all AirTran employees, who have worked so hard to build this airline, only to potentially have their jobs outsourced. The name AirTran reflects the quality service to which pilots and other employee groups have largely contributed. For this reason, we find it ironic that management has been critical of Republic Holdings for destroying the Midwest Airlines brand while they risk weakening our own product.
To be clear, we are encouraged that management is looking for ways to grow profitability. We believe, however, that over the long-term, AirTran pilots are better suited to performing flying for AirTran, and we are hopeful that the Company will realize the benefits of having AirTran pilots do that work. Southwest and JetBlue don’t let others fly their passengers, and neither should we.
Be assured that the MEC is exploring its legal options to determine if this agreement violates our scope language. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring this arrangement and working with the Association’s Economic & Financial Analysis Department to quantify the impact to our pilots. Of course, restrictions on the Company’s right to outsource will be a subject of negotiations during our upcoming discussions on scope. While recent events no doubt highlight the importance of Section 1 of our collective bargaining agreement, you can be confident that the MEC’s guidance to the Negotiating Committee on scope did not require any such reminder.
We need you to participate now. We need every line pilot to attend SPSC events to ensure that management knows how seriously we take this potential threat to our profession and to our job security. You will soon receive information on the next SPSC event. Please make every effort to attend and demonstrate to management not only that you are concerned by their actions to harm our brand and outsource our flying, but also that you are determined to achieve a new contract with better scope, better pay, and better work rules. Remember: we ARE major airline pilots, and we DESERVE a major airline contract.
In unity,
Your Master Executive Council
Fellow Pilots,
AirTran has just announced an agreement with SkyWest for CRJ feeder service into Milwaukee. Under the terms of the deal, SkyWest will initially operate five CRJ-200 aircraft–in SkyWest livery–between Pittsburgh (PIT), St. Louis (STL), Canton/Akron (CAK), Indianapolis (IND), Des Moines (DSM), Omaha (OMA) and Milwaukee (MKE). Any additional service resulting from this agreement is not yet known.
We are concerned by our management’s move to shift flying to another carrier, even as growth at mainline AirTran has stagnated for nearly two years. This affects all of us, as pilot career progression could be slowed by such outsourcing.
Furthermore, it’s unclear how the utilization of RJs in 2010 would be any more successful or profitable than it was to use them in 2003, when the company ended AirTran Jet-Connect. What is abundantly clear, unfortunately, is that our contract allows management great latitude to give your job to other airlines, including non-union SkyWest.
We believe today’s announcement is an affront to AirTran pilots, as well as all AirTran employees, who have worked so hard to build this airline, only to potentially have their jobs outsourced. The name AirTran reflects the quality service to which pilots and other employee groups have largely contributed. For this reason, we find it ironic that management has been critical of Republic Holdings for destroying the Midwest Airlines brand while they risk weakening our own product.
To be clear, we are encouraged that management is looking for ways to grow profitability. We believe, however, that over the long-term, AirTran pilots are better suited to performing flying for AirTran, and we are hopeful that the Company will realize the benefits of having AirTran pilots do that work. Southwest and JetBlue don’t let others fly their passengers, and neither should we.
Be assured that the MEC is exploring its legal options to determine if this agreement violates our scope language. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring this arrangement and working with the Association’s Economic & Financial Analysis Department to quantify the impact to our pilots. Of course, restrictions on the Company’s right to outsource will be a subject of negotiations during our upcoming discussions on scope. While recent events no doubt highlight the importance of Section 1 of our collective bargaining agreement, you can be confident that the MEC’s guidance to the Negotiating Committee on scope did not require any such reminder.
We need you to participate now. We need every line pilot to attend SPSC events to ensure that management knows how seriously we take this potential threat to our profession and to our job security. You will soon receive information on the next SPSC event. Please make every effort to attend and demonstrate to management not only that you are concerned by their actions to harm our brand and outsource our flying, but also that you are determined to achieve a new contract with better scope, better pay, and better work rules. Remember: we ARE major airline pilots, and we DESERVE a major airline contract.
In unity,
Your Master Executive Council
Corporations obey the letter, not the spirit of the law. I'm a SkyWester and I definitely understand AirTran pilots' concern, but I don't think scope is the answer here.
11-19-2009, 11:16 AM
#68
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 217
The ATN MEC's response:
Fellow Pilots,
AirTran has just announced an agreement with SkyWest for CRJ feeder service into Milwaukee. Under the terms of the deal, SkyWest will initially operate five CRJ-200 aircraft–in SkyWest livery–between Pittsburgh (PIT), St. Louis (STL), Canton/Akron (CAK), Indianapolis (IND), Des Moines (DSM), Omaha (OMA) and Milwaukee (MKE). Any additional service resulting from this agreement is not yet known.
We are concerned by our management’s move to shift flying to another carrier, even as growth at mainline AirTran has stagnated for nearly two years. This affects all of us, as pilot career progression could be slowed by such outsourcing.
Furthermore, it’s unclear how the utilization of RJs in 2010 would be any more successful or profitable than it was to use them in 2003, when the company ended AirTran Jet-Connect. What is abundantly clear, unfortunately, is that our contract allows management great latitude to give your job to other airlines, including non-union SkyWest.
We believe today’s announcement is an affront to AirTran pilots, as well as all AirTran employees, who have worked so hard to build this airline, only to potentially have their jobs outsourced. The name AirTran reflects the quality service to which pilots and other employee groups have largely contributed. For this reason, we find it ironic that management has been critical of Republic Holdings for destroying the Midwest Airlines brand while they risk weakening our own product.
To be clear, we are encouraged that management is looking for ways to grow profitability. We believe, however, that over the long-term, AirTran pilots are better suited to performing flying for AirTran, and we are hopeful that the Company will realize the benefits of having AirTran pilots do that work. Southwest and JetBlue don’t let others fly their passengers, and neither should we.
Be assured that the MEC is exploring its legal options to determine if this agreement violates our scope language. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring this arrangement and working with the Association’s Economic & Financial Analysis Department to quantify the impact to our pilots. Of course, restrictions on the Company’s right to outsource will be a subject of negotiations during our upcoming discussions on scope. While recent events no doubt highlight the importance of Section 1 of our collective bargaining agreement, you can be confident that the MEC’s guidance to the Negotiating Committee on scope did not require any such reminder.
We need you to participate now. We need every line pilot to attend SPSC events to ensure that management knows how seriously we take this potential threat to our profession and to our job security. You will soon receive information on the next SPSC event. Please make every effort to attend and demonstrate to management not only that you are concerned by their actions to harm our brand and outsource our flying, but also that you are determined to achieve a new contract with better scope, better pay, and better work rules. Remember: we ARE major airline pilots, and we DESERVE a major airline contract.
In unity,
Your Master Executive Council
Fellow Pilots,
AirTran has just announced an agreement with SkyWest for CRJ feeder service into Milwaukee. Under the terms of the deal, SkyWest will initially operate five CRJ-200 aircraft–in SkyWest livery–between Pittsburgh (PIT), St. Louis (STL), Canton/Akron (CAK), Indianapolis (IND), Des Moines (DSM), Omaha (OMA) and Milwaukee (MKE). Any additional service resulting from this agreement is not yet known.
We are concerned by our management’s move to shift flying to another carrier, even as growth at mainline AirTran has stagnated for nearly two years. This affects all of us, as pilot career progression could be slowed by such outsourcing.
Furthermore, it’s unclear how the utilization of RJs in 2010 would be any more successful or profitable than it was to use them in 2003, when the company ended AirTran Jet-Connect. What is abundantly clear, unfortunately, is that our contract allows management great latitude to give your job to other airlines, including non-union SkyWest.
We believe today’s announcement is an affront to AirTran pilots, as well as all AirTran employees, who have worked so hard to build this airline, only to potentially have their jobs outsourced. The name AirTran reflects the quality service to which pilots and other employee groups have largely contributed. For this reason, we find it ironic that management has been critical of Republic Holdings for destroying the Midwest Airlines brand while they risk weakening our own product.
To be clear, we are encouraged that management is looking for ways to grow profitability. We believe, however, that over the long-term, AirTran pilots are better suited to performing flying for AirTran, and we are hopeful that the Company will realize the benefits of having AirTran pilots do that work. Southwest and JetBlue don’t let others fly their passengers, and neither should we.
Be assured that the MEC is exploring its legal options to determine if this agreement violates our scope language. In the meantime, we will be closely monitoring this arrangement and working with the Association’s Economic & Financial Analysis Department to quantify the impact to our pilots. Of course, restrictions on the Company’s right to outsource will be a subject of negotiations during our upcoming discussions on scope. While recent events no doubt highlight the importance of Section 1 of our collective bargaining agreement, you can be confident that the MEC’s guidance to the Negotiating Committee on scope did not require any such reminder.
We need you to participate now. We need every line pilot to attend SPSC events to ensure that management knows how seriously we take this potential threat to our profession and to our job security. You will soon receive information on the next SPSC event. Please make every effort to attend and demonstrate to management not only that you are concerned by their actions to harm our brand and outsource our flying, but also that you are determined to achieve a new contract with better scope, better pay, and better work rules. Remember: we ARE major airline pilots, and we DESERVE a major airline contract.
In unity,
Your Master Executive Council
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