the issue is with the FAA and slot control. When EWR was going through construction the last 2 years the FAA asked everyone to pull down their schedule equally to help. United dumped a huge amount of flights whil JetBlue turned around and used it as a competitive advantage and exploded turning EWR into a mini hub. United complained and the FAA did nothing about it. So now we have the recovery and we put back our pre COVID and EWR construction schedule and the airport falls apart.

Now you want to cut flights to make it operate better but all that is going to happen is JetBlue will plug more in and nothing gets better. EWR needs to be slot controlled but the FAA won’t do it.

so do you think we should continue to give up market share in EWR?

 

I disagree. It is not our (pilots) problem to fix. Do you honestly believe that anything you tell managers about these issues is being considered?!? These problems are for management to fix. My job is to fly the aircraft safely from point A to B, fly the contract without apology, and keep my crew and passengers as comfortable and informed as I can. I don’t get worked up about things that are beyond my control

 

Succinct and to the point. Well said.

 

No kidding. Ernest Gann was *****ing about EWR back in the 30s I think.

 

How exactly are YOU going to fix ramp and congestion issues at EWR? Maybe write a strongly worded letter, or make some passive aggressive quips on ops frequency? Try talking to management and see where that gets you. Unfortunately you’re dealing with a management that’s full of rainbows and unicorns and small on solutions. And your input will be summarily dismissed, no matter what they told you at charm school.

 

I couldn’t agree with you anymore. Where is the accountability? I would love for SK to get involved directly and put the power of his brain and his team’s behind this. I refuse to believe there is not a better way. Too many dinosaurs on here that throw their hands up. I suppose 30yrs of EWR will do that to a man.

 

Kirby is already on it and competing. This problem exists because we are competing with JetBlue who took advantage of a pull down during EWR construction to blow up their growth and direct competition with United. If we fix the problem we lose market share to JetBlue who WILL grow. The FAA knows it’s a problem and when they cap the airport then the playing field will be leveled until then this is competition.

it’s funny we have a CEO that is hard line focused on competing for the first time in 3 decades and we can’t seem to hang…..

 

 

Scott does need to jump on this, if we are going to grow we need to make commensurate improvements to our infrastructure. That’s got nothing to do with the “ dinosaurs” who fly the airplanes, they have a different job. Believe it or not most of us dinosaurs have watched the ramp/ go from bad to WAY worse in the past 5 years. And I’ll say it again, what exactly are YOU going to do to fix it? It’s fun to play the blame game but the senior dinosaurs have learned which fights they can win and when it’s a situation that can’t be won, then it’s time to sit back and watch the show. If you go ballistic trying to fix the unfixable you’re going to be a miserable, angry person on medical leave sooner than later.

Once again SCOTT and his MANAGEMENT team need to jump on this. It would be a great start if they’d take input and suggestions from their people in the trenches. Anytime I’ve contacted a manager I’ve heard lots of excuses and few solutions. Fact of the matter is if you’ve got 10 lbs of stuff and a 5 lb bag you need to either get a bigger bag or schedule so there is only 5 lbs of stuff in the bag at a time. Stand by for some epic Kirby clusters this summer.

 

Cool we agree on something. There is a leadership void in Newark and it needs attention.

Now what can we do? Our union should send a message from pilots to the company. Comms are severely lacking in both directions. Waiting hours in some cases is affecting our customers and it’s also affecting our pilots who have commutes and personal commitments elsewhere.