"Delta is currently finalizing the Summer schedule and indications are they will be cranking the block hours up in June - August. We will approach close to 1000 flights per day during some days in July. ASA has not experienced block hours or departures like this in our recent past.
Average line block hours will reach into the mid 80s during the Summer months. Credit line values will be very high and there will be a return of more CDO lines. Reserve pilot staffing will still run around the 18-20% level overall putting us in the current staffing position of covering unplanned absences (ie sick calls, pilots invoking the commuter clause) and irregular operations (ie ground delay programs, weather).
Personal leave of absences will be almost non existent and COMA lines will not be offered until later this Fall. The Chief PIlots will assist with "must have trip drops" but even those will be hard to approve. If you have any "must have time off requests" (ie I am the groom in a wedding) not accounted for already via a vacation week award or probably not senior enough to hold any line other then Reserve, stop by and talk to a Chief Pilot ASAP. Give the CP office a heads up now even though you think you will be able to bid the time off.
There is no plan to cancel vacation awards during the Summer. We should have the staffing to meet the peak Summer schedule month which is July.
This Summer will be challenging but we can do it. Your continued professionalism and attention to our D-O program, fuel initiatives and safety programs is appreciated."
Straight from the horses mouth. Or the other end in his case. Doesnt sound too confident that summer will be a cake walk. Might our performance numbers drop and possibly affect us in a long term sense?
When are fall schedules finalized?