I don't mind the SKYW partnership at all. They are a good regional jet provider for sure. As long as they can keep their perf numbers up and stay within the hard limits of the DL and UAL agreements (to include pilot scope), great!

BTW DL didn't have a problem with SKYW flying for UAL as long as they could hold up their end of the PWA compliant CPA's. Up until now SKYW has run a good operation and have been able to do so. I'll give them credit for that all day long and have no issue with them as long as they stay within the constraints of what we permit them to do, which they will.

You sound more like a SKYW manager than a pilot, but either way that's cool. DL has dealt with managers with loftier ambitions than yours in the past (CMR, ACA, etc) and will do so again when necessary. Sorry to inform you that you will not be getting larger RJ's though. It simply will not be permitted. You will have to remain within the limits set by your existing CPA's and unionized pilot PWA's.

The size, weight and seat count is simply not going up for you. Sorry. The only thing that may happen is some kind of trade for more 76's in exchange for fewer 50's or 70's on a net seat/BH loss basis. We'll see what the next round of mainline PWA's does WRT that, but even that small carrot isn't looking good. But even if you do get that, you'll have to shrink to get it.

 

If it was going to happen it would have happened in this round of negotiations. This was when it was critical to launch the new airframes. Embraer has already acknowledged that nothing is going to change and put of the new version of the E175.

 

Mark my words: you will never get your scope jets. Sorry bro. I know you think all trends continue forever. If that were true, then SKYW will become the new airline world order and fly every plane for every airline in existence. All trends continue, right? Every time you takeoff, you are accelerating at a rapid rate and will go super sonic in a matter of minutes! Oh wait, there's reality. The same reality that will prevent SKYW from becoming what you want it to become.

So you're either a very senior/lifer pilot or a manager at SKYW. That's cool. I assure you your counterparts at CMR, ACA and other places had ambitions every bit as lofty as yours. So far we are several contracts deep into the "hold the line" mentality on your upper end. IMO the only relief you'll see is if you shrink to fly fewer RJ's already in your allowed range at the expense of more on the lower end. IOW you will have to shrink to get even that.

SKYW was hardly a revolutionary with their UAL deal. Other regionals operated for more than one partner. I know you think JA is the dominant genius of the industry; many thought the same about CMR and ACA managers as well. But I agree that he is smart. Smart enough to know that his ambitions stop here, and he's better off taking his guaranteed profits and staying in his place.

 

Not going to happen. I hope you didn't get a bunch of stock options based on that.

 

And you keep pretending SKYW is the little engine that could, always growing, always flying bigger planes, to infinity and beyond!

 

Why would SKYW being forever limited to current seat and weight limits to fly DL and UAL code as determined by the pilot groups who own their codes bother me? You are limited, unless we chose to permit you otherwise. Spoiler alert: we will not permit you otherwise. The koolaid must be hella strong in SGU.

 

Yet they didn't find that way.

 

No.

You're clearly a SKYW fanboy, which, in and of itself, I have no problem with. Like I said, they are a quality regional operator and run a fairly good show. I give them credit for that. Every place has lifers, and the "lost decade" has put more in that position than otherwise would have happened. So I get that.

But the fact remains that they will not be permitted to operate larger equipment outside of a massive scope sale or an IndyAir style, all in gamble. The scope sale isn't going to happen. Your ride to the stars stops with the 76 seaters at current weights. Its possible to get more, but only as a result of horse trading for a greater reduction at the lower end, or perhaps a new deal with AS/VX or even picking up some flying currently done by other regionals.

You will not be getting larger equipment from DL. That ship has sailed. If you find another way, it puts your entire DCI partnership at risk, which is why your friend JA won't do it. SKYW grew a lot because they got their pilots to "deal them an ace" when they needed it the most. But don't expect any cards under the table from DALPA. You won't be getting any.

 

OK I'll play along. You're just an unvested, free thinking neutral observer who happens to think SKYW will take over the world and end up flying mainline sized planes on behalf of mainline airlines.

That still doesn't explain why you want it to happen so badly.

So, in your unvested, neutral observer fashion, how big of a plane do you think SKYW will fly for DL/UA in 5, 10, 20 years?

This should be interesting.

 

Everyone else has too much butter on their hands from the popcorn.