Vectored thrust, duh...

 

I'm not surprised by the latest announcement, by none of it.

Earlier this year Delta announced that the CRJ200 fleet was being reduced to 125 airframes. We have 140. There is no way Pinnacle was keeping all 140 nor should anyone expect us to have most of the 125 remaining. It won't happen. If we end up keeping 70 I'd br really surprised.

I find it really funny (strange) that our 'OWNED' fleet of 900's are the ones being reduced. By getting rid of them gives Delta not only more control but the cash from lease payments. From the XJ/NWA bankruptcy it was shown that lease payments to the mainline carrier were way more than if we had just bought the planes ourselves.

So between the loss of the ATL 900's and some undisclosed numbers of 200's, I suspect we'll end up with about 100 aircraft when the dust settles. I suspect we will get 20-25 of the new 900's.

I wonder why Delta even cares what any of us makes. Delta awards a contract. Take it or leave it. I have no idea what my lawn service pays the guy driving the mower.

I believe the Delta TA screwed us. I have no claim to any size aircraft. My company bids on them and I fly them. I'm not the enemy. However when the TA included rates for crj900's and erj175's you said to my company what I should make. That hurt.

Personally I think we should put 777, 380, 747, 787, etc rates in our contract. Why not? There's no way we will ever get them is there? Just like you have no intention of getting 76 seat aircraft. I wonder if delta management would hold it over your heads at a regional airline is offering to fly a 777 for $100.

I don't see us going out of business. I do see us getting smaller. It may be down to 41 900's. We need a fair contract with a return on investment for any cuts taken. Anything else we really need to let someone else do the work.

 

Delta's contracts have had RJ rates for years.

 

Are you a pinnacle lifer? If not, what you propose is idiotic.

If so, and you're advocating for undercutting mainline rates...well, I have zero sympathy for you. Good luck

 

Here's the problem with your argument.

Pinnacle pilots current CRJ900 rates

20 yr CA $106
20 yr FO $45
1 yr FO $26

Current Delta CRJ900 rates

12 yr CA $121
12 yr FO $82
1 yr FO $60


So Delta rates already smoke Pinnacle rates. And your companies BK was NOT caused by Delta pilots. It was caused by your companies management. Delta pilots were hosed by management during their BK too. That's why your company has those shiny CRJ900's. So instead of kicking and screaming & throwing out threats, man up and place the blame where it belongs....Pinnacle management. What is happening to Pinnacle employees sucks. But it's not anyone's fault except 9e management.

 

 

I really don't think Pinnacle needs for pilots to take pay cuts. In the next couple of years there is going to be huge attrition. Pinnacle is going to have plenty of junior Captains and F/O's. Bottom of the pay scale. If they can't stay in business with those rates then maybe it isn't labor costs and it's poor management. $45 top rate for f/o's is low as it is. $45,000 tops for flying a 90 seat jet? All the time on the road, in crappy hotels...where do you draw the line? $30? $25? $15?

 

Oh yea, and giant parachutes too.

 

Comair guys at GoJet? Oh, the irony...

Glad you guys were able to land on your feet at least...

 

The main reason for Pinnacle to have pay cuts to to reduce payments to ALL DCI carriers. Delta repays Pilot expense up to the AVERAGE of the DCI carriers. By reducing Pinnacle pay the average goes down and all DCI carriers get less. This puts pressure on those in section 6 negotiations for their airline to be "competitive". A Pinnacle reduction will fuel the race to the bottom.