This was taken out of his July 23rd weekly update:

"We’re controlling our costs very well, but we’re not doing it at the expense of taking care of our people and our customers...So keep doing a good job so that we win more of the customers, and hang in there. It’s tough and we don’t know when the economy is going to perfectly turn around, but we do know how to work together and do a good job for our customers."

WOW....to all of us at Comair and Mesaba this quote is a swift kick in junk. Apparently we, the wholly owned DCI carriers, don't count and we aren't a part of the whole team. What BS!!

This industry is rough, & yes Comair & Mesaba are shrinking. However, keep in mind that they grew at the EXPENSE of Mainline jobs, & Mainline jobs is where RA's primary responsibilty is in regards to employee relations. DCI have their own CEOs.

DCI CEOs take all of their orders from Daddy Delta. I don't buy it for a second that RA has nothing to do with the shrinking of the DCI's. I'm not for huge growth for regional airlines. I don't want to be stuck at a regional my whole life. Although nothing is wrong with that. I have goals to be at a major carrier.
However, since I am at a regional airline and this is my livelihood I get upset and frustrated by the fact that mainline makes us feel like little pee-ons and worthless and NOT a part of the team.
We are a part of the Delta team (without Daddy Delta I don't get a pay check) and for RA to say that Delta is doing well at NO expense to their emplyees is crap.

IMHO..I think since per Delta's SEC filing that stated the wholly owned subsidiary employees were "Delta Employees" We should take that to the Department of Labor and NMB to petition for the same bennefits and payscales that "mainline" Delta employees rate.

If you think the downsizing is bad now, wait till that day.

I say try it, and before you could even get it filed they would be moving your assets.

Fact is that RA is a lawyer and though vague he is definitely referring to the mainline employees.
He is responsible for the shrinking of DCI. The man knows there is a place for RJ's. He just knows that their place at the table needs to shrink. That is actually good for you guys. It means more mainline jobs.

I wouldn't doubt it. Hence why no one wants to even dare try it! I'm in agreement that there needs to be more jobs at mainline. That means guys here or at other regionals move up and out and I can move in. Luckily I didn't apply during the low time hiring boom and I'm not out on the street on furlough with my friends. We were having our third child so we decided (better half and I) that it just wasn't the right time to make the jump. Though I am getting nervous and starting to look at jumping ship.

Welcome to the Club. Mainline carriers have been getting shafted for years - unfortunate as it is for you guys, the wholly owned carriers are not unique in this regard.

And look at the potential upside, DAL is now well aware of the inflexibility of the DCI contracts. The contract carriers may be receiving a respite due to their contracts, but in my opinion when the contracts come up for renewal a lot of them will be terminated. At this point the wholly owned guys should recapture some of the flying.

Scoop

Do not get so excited about shrinking the wholly owned DCI carriers. This does not mean more jobs at mainline. Delta management is shifting flying from the wholly owned to carriers like Mesa, RAH, and Pinnacle. How does that help us as Delta employees (Delta, Comair, Mesaba, and Compass)?
Do not be fooled by RA or any member of management. If it was up to them they would have regional pilots fly 767's across the pond for $23/hour. They could care less about you and I.

Thanks for the heads up. Are you suggesting then that there would be plenty of regional guys who would be willing to fly a 767 across the pond for $23/hour on the hopes that by building that heavy time they will qualify for that "mainline job" someday?

The reason you are seeing the shifting of flying is because there is no contract to break and go to court over. With the wholly owned carriers they can cut at will. Unfortunately, that means that life at Mesaba and Comair is going to be very difficult. The current management team does not like the RJ product. As long as they are in place you will see pressure in front of and behind the bows of every DCI operator.