We're actually acquiring 40 R-Jets, not 30, and in return we're removing 40 CR2's from the UA system but only as they come off agreement sometime over the next 2.5 years (30 months). The initial 40 E-Jets will feel like growth then attrition will offset the slow loss of the 40 CR2's.

SkyWest will shrink but it will be a slow shrink unlike the losses others have sadly experienced. Also Mgmt. will not cut our pay without an agreement voted in by the pilots and our pilot group will do what’s best for SkyWest's future. If taking a bit of a cut is needed it will happen but we will work together to minimalize loss. I guarantee you our cuts won’t be anywhere near as deep as 9Es were. Regardless keep in mind if and when we take any reductions they will be caused by cuts forced upon airlines like Pinnacle and Mesa; and also because of young airlines with lower overall cost like GoJets and Compass; all unionized carriers. I remember a time when the disgruntled 10%ers on here attacked us SkyWest pilots for not setting the bar. Now you’re dying for us to take bigger cuts than you in order to validate and prove what many of you have been preaching, that our Mgmt. group will screw us more during hard times because we’re non-union. Well that's truly sad, but get ready for more disappointment because it won’t happen.

What you guys fail to remember is that we’re competitors. My airline competes against yours and I want my airline to succeed, that’s business and the majority of us at SkyWest realize this. Life is not fair; there will never be equality and anyone who thinks there should be or could be needs to wake up before it's too late.

 

Well, if you do get to vote then you actually have a chance to raise the bar! Or just keep what you have. Or lower the bar. So time will tell. We'll see if you guys can actually make a difference for the better rather than just being a passenger on this pattern bargaining roller coaster driven by all of us union pilot. I would love to see you guys use whatever leverage management gives you I order to change the trajectory for the better. This is your chance!

 

Damn and I thought I was quick, lol, you quoted me before I could correct a few things.

My friend the bar has already been lowered. IMO, at best we can only maintain. We at Inc. (SkyWest and XJT) are well above the bar like a giraffe sticking up out the top of a train as it's speeding toward a tunnel. This industry is driven by mainline and as long as they’re writing the checks they will always search of the" most efficient" contractual feed. Don’t you when it comes to putting a roof on your house or choosing a TV provider? What happens when your TV provider’s rates creep up beyond their competitors?

I know this will infuriate many but I don't want to be the highest paid; I want to be competitively paid so my Mgmt. team can compete, win new flying and retain current contracts. That’s far more important to me than making a few bucks more per hour.

 

Frankly these are negotiations. Management can point at competing pilot pay/work rules all day long, but that doesn't mean that the rates we offer mainline are dependent upon our pay. Thats all management wants us to think though. Running a more efficient operation with efficient airplanes has more of a factor on cost than pilot group wages. Why else do you think they were pushing SCF, fly the block, econ speeds, staff to make reserves work 74.9 hrs etc so hard? I think we could realistically get raises and still be competitive. We don't have to win all RFPs or even grow. I see nothing changing being a minimum acceptable thing, and I'm sure management has already planned for that being the end result. Managements move on all this is oh whats the qoute? Under commit, over preform? "Hey we all need pay cuts to survive...*negotiations*..hey we are happy to announce no pay cuts!! ~pilots sigh of relief and are satisfied, management sighs of relief that they avoid giving raises while being profitable.

Put it this way, under what circumstances do you ever see it being clear to management that pay raises would be a good move? Even when we are profitable and picking up new RFPs, they can counter with well the future looks really cut throat and competetive, so I dont think we can. They can sing that song and kick the can down the road all day long.

 

This is incorrect. I don't want to fan the flame of the haters on this board so I'll leave the details out. SkyWest, at its worst, is better than any of the current batch of regionals and we don't have to romanticize their record to prove it.

 

The highest cost to an airline is fuel followed by labor. Since SkyWest doesn't pay for fuel labor is their highest cost. Regardless of how you cut it all cost associated with an airline effect the bottom line and paying every pilot $2 more per hour equates to $5.7M+ in increased cost.

3180 pilots x 75 hr (MMG) = 238,500 x 12 months = 2,862,000 hours x $2 = $5,724,000

That’s only pilots; all labor groups want more money. I'm not saying we're now worth more, we are, but we must stay competitive. $2 more per hour isn’t worth stagnation and lost contracts.

 

Geez guys, you are all already defeated. Management throws a few softballs out and you strike out without even swinging. Way to go! Oh well, figures.

 

9E stole the ball.

 

My views aren't derived from Mgmts so called softballs.

 

matchpoint, the union email that has been going around for a week or mentions that SKW will be parking 100 airplanes while EXJ parks 150, all whom are being flown for United, what the latest on that? Also, how about the Delta 50 seaters from last year. It was something like 66. Have they all been parked?