Downgrades
 

While Spirit hasn’t mentioned any Workforce reduction yet I was curious if a captain is to be downgraded what is the process to down grade and then the process once you eventually upgrade again. Is it a simple sim session in the right seat to get qualified in the right seat? Then when you up grade is it a whole PC check, then any OE? Fed ride again? Bogota route again?

The reason I’m asking, if Spirit thinks this workforce reduction may not be more than a couple months I wonder if it would be financially worth it not to downgrade anybody also not tie up any resources for the process just a downgrade and then upgrade somebody for a few months.

asking for a friend.

I don't see a point on furloughing unless they don't plan to need you for at least 6 months... and more like a year.

Given that a furlough will fall mainly on first and second year hires, and downgrades would fall mainly on those with 4-5 years on property, furloughing 500 pilots and downgrading 250 captains for 9 months until the summer Of 2021 would only save about $40 million in salaries. While you wouldn’t see the training churn you would in an airline with multiple fleet types, neither would it be negligible. Just lowering ALV to the guarantee would probably save almost that much money.

it’s very possible that management will decide - like the WN management apparently has - that this is an opportunity to seize market share from the Big Three while they are handicapped by the loss of their own international flying. If that were the case they well might just not furlough or downgrade at all and keep their cheapest labor on board, flying aircraft at less than break-even fares to gain markets and gates, then gradually ease up prices to where they are again generating profits as the recovery happens.

It all depends upon how they see the recovery playing out. Clearly, between the additional Fed loans available to them and the recent sale of stock, they have the liquidity to put the chips on the table if they want to place that sort of a bet.

I’m curious what the difference between furlough /downgrades vs longer duration VIL. 3,6,12 months. Since VIL goes more senior. You know many will take it during, November and December. With VIL there’s no displacement, training cost compared to furlough / downgrade and can be adjust month to month like we are doing now.

Without digging my iPad out and looking. If we have an approved re-qual training event, it’d be in there somewhere. They could also seek approval of such a program if they wanted to. With that said, I have bid down before and it was a simple PC and line check, different airline though. I’d say based on the email the MEC just sent out, furloughs imminent, downgrades likely. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, this is far from over

No reason to not offer long term VILS


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They didn’t get as many as they wanted for August. What makes you think they’ll have enough takers?

I have a feeling November and December, they’ll get more than they need.

They ended up getting more then they planned for august...


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I’d imagine there have been some guys(and gals) who have been waiting for a summer vacation or Christmas off for quite awhile...