Comair to be shut down 9/29
07-28-2012, 07:01 AM
#91
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Joined APC: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,152
Originally Posted by Kellwolf
More likely those same 70 seat jets that Comair losing will be in GoJet paint by the end of the year.
No paint change. Just change the "operated by" sticker. So easy!!
Oh well, except for the 1600 people losing their jobs on Sept 29.
Wait. That was kind of easy (for Delta) too!!
07-28-2012, 07:20 AM
#92
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,516
Originally Posted by grumman
And don't forget, Comair's MEC convinced management not to hire any fuloughed DL pilots...
...Did I get that right?
...Did I get that right?
That's like saying the Delta pilots convinced Anderson to get 70 more large RJs.
07-28-2012, 07:49 AM
#93
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Joined APC: May 2007
Position: CFI
Posts: 416
It's a sad time for those who will be losing their jobs. For a good period of time, Comair was considered by some to be the gold standard in regional flying. Comair will now, sadly, serve as a cautionary tale about the industry.
In some sense, I'm not surprised by Delta's move. With newer, more efficient engines being built and America's desire for cost over service, the mainlines have probably determined flying two flights on 150 seat jets is far better than paying someone to fly 50 seat jets five or six times a day.
Don't discount how important it will be for the new behemoth mainlines to keep their extremely large pilot groups happy. Keeping the labor peace with a 12,000 man workforce can't be overstated. A strike or slowdown would harshly affect a company that control 20% of all commercial flights in the US.
Some, possibly many will disgree with me, but I doubt we'll see many regional carriers left in five years. I look for the mainlines to reclaim their routes and fly more efficient, larger jets with their own pilots staffing them. Certainly, a few might survive, but likely as stand alone carriers in the mold of Virgen America or Spirit. That's just my view though.
In some sense, I'm not surprised by Delta's move. With newer, more efficient engines being built and America's desire for cost over service, the mainlines have probably determined flying two flights on 150 seat jets is far better than paying someone to fly 50 seat jets five or six times a day.
Don't discount how important it will be for the new behemoth mainlines to keep their extremely large pilot groups happy. Keeping the labor peace with a 12,000 man workforce can't be overstated. A strike or slowdown would harshly affect a company that control 20% of all commercial flights in the US.
Some, possibly many will disgree with me, but I doubt we'll see many regional carriers left in five years. I look for the mainlines to reclaim their routes and fly more efficient, larger jets with their own pilots staffing them. Certainly, a few might survive, but likely as stand alone carriers in the mold of Virgen America or Spirit. That's just my view though.
07-28-2012, 07:52 AM
#94
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Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,902
Originally Posted by AxialFlow
An empty platitude. There are guys out there who have been in this career 15 years that have never made out of the right seat, or a regional for that matter, just by the cyclical nature of this industry and the seniority system. Makes it tough to "get out" when you can't get any left-seat time. Mainline is creating their own problem of sorts though, with consolidation at the regional level: it reminds EVERYONE that regionals aren't companies one can spend their career at. Mainline can't hire too many all at once now, or they might just end up crippling the feed they rely so heavily on.
07-28-2012, 07:55 AM
#95
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Posts: 8,902
Comair will now, sadly, serve as a cautionary tale about the industry.
07-28-2012, 08:06 AM
#96
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Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: FO
Posts: 3,032
Originally Posted by ShyGuy
Even in this economy, you don't necessarily need TPIC time or internal connections to get hired at a LCC/major. It's about having the motivation and the aptitude to leave. I can't count how many pilots I flew with that didn't bother updating their logbooks, some of them for over 6 months! I'm not just talking about Captains, but FOs too. How can you have an updated resume and apply online if you don't even know your flight times? I will say the CAs and FOs I knew at regionals that have moved on to Spirit, VA, JetBlue, US Air, Fedex, were all driven to leave and constantly kept their stuff up to date and applied regularly.
07-28-2012, 08:09 AM
#97
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Posts: 416
Originally Posted by ShyGuy
What tale is that? That you cannot retire at a regional that constantly gets its work revenue from a mainline partner in flying contracts that can be cut/minimized/eliminated pretty much at the whim of said mainline carrier? That's not a cautionary tale, that's common sense.
07-28-2012, 08:13 AM
#98
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Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: blueJet
Posts: 4,516
Originally Posted by Whacker77
Some, possibly many will disgree with me, but I doubt we'll see many regional carriers left in five years.
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07-28-2012, 08:23 AM
#99
doin time
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: RJ Left
Posts: 436
Originally Posted by ShyGuy
Even in this economy, you don't necessarily need TPIC time or internal connections to get hired at a LCC/major. It's about having the motivation and the aptitude to leave. I can't count how many pilots I flew with that didn't bother updating their logbooks, some of them for over 6 months! I'm not just talking about Captains, but FOs too. How can you have an updated resume and apply online if you don't even know your flight times? I will say the CAs and FOs I knew at regionals that have moved on to Spirit, VA, JetBlue, US Air, Fedex, were all driven to leave and constantly kept their stuff up to date and applied regularly.
07-28-2012, 08:24 AM
#100
doin time
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: RJ Left
Posts: 436
Originally Posted by Kellwolf
I see several guys playing the "Mainline's taking it back" card. I'd agree.....IF that turns out to be true. Sadly, I think it's more likely GoJets will see an increase in flying rather than seeing some MD-88s and 717s taking some of those routes....or even taking some of the 70-76 routes and putting those planes on former 50 seat routes.
More likely those same 70 seat jets that Comair losing will be in GoJet paint by the end of the year.
More likely those same 70 seat jets that Comair losing will be in GoJet paint by the end of the year.
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