Quote:
Originally Posted by Klsytakesit
And in true Alaska Airlines style......They are being very coy and sleazy in all of the communications about their intent......reminds me of the manner in which they built up to firing 700 plus union rampers one morning....
I have a hard time thinking that this is how they would close the doors at QX. The email from the company essentially said "Bad news is we're cutting 20 Q400's, but the good news is we're giving you guys an
opportunity here - cut us a deal and you get to fly
jets!" If they wanted to shut us down, they wouldn't have told us outright that we are losing 40% of our fleet. Those leases aren't up until 2017-2018 yet they want a TA by the end of the year. Over 30% of our pilot group has been here less than 18 months. If we don't get those jets, I would expect the vast majority of our junior pilots would be gone by next summer. That means a major crew shortage - cancellations, parking airplanes still on lease, etc.
Beyond that, I think AAG has a lot to benefit from having QX fly the E175 for them alongside SKW. Put the majority of regional growth at QX, but just enough outsourcing to SKW to keep fear in the QX work groups of being replaced - like an ongoing reminder that Horizon isn't the only option. That way neither QX or SKW has any leverage and we can continue the race to the bottom just like every regional does to get new contracts from mainlines.
Does that mean that Horizon is the land of opportunity right now? Of course not. However, I highly doubt that we are legitimately at risk of being shut down.