Quote:
Originally Posted by rube
What about the mess that is the transatlantic market? AF, KLM and AZ are being forced to push their capacity to the limits because they can't make money flying around Europe. It puts immense downward pressure on yields, and is the reason that we aren't flying 50%.
Our international block hours actually grew, our international fleet actually grew during the noncompliance, but none of that growth involved the TAJV. The block hour floor is a novel form of downside protection, but no contract can move the market.
I don't expect to move the market, nor do I expect them to fly planes around empty etc. I just want the half we agreed to. The Spirit and intent of that "half" was 50%. The so called "window" was designed for flexibility here or there, but we were always supposed to get half. Not 48.5% as an all cases maximum, and then below that only to be forgiven.
If EU craters, then that's just business. Flights will be pulled down. I get that. But we should still get our half. If EU grows, we still should get our half. If they are below that half, then we get an injunction to pull the code from whatever portion of the lift necessary to get back into compliance. AF can fly to Peoria 73 times a day in A-380's if they want to, I really don't care. All I care about is how much AF flies for within the DL code. That should be split with us equally as originally agreed to, without constant give backs.