United settles with Boeing for 787 delays - Yahoo! Finance

Take a look at the last couple of paragraphs. Hints of the company's negotiating tactic at the table if we ever start talking again:


Translation: If the pilot contract doesn't cost us too much money we will use the new plane options to grow the airline where possible.


Miracle lure anyone?


I doubt seriously the company would use the planes to grow. They'll be used for replacement. We have a history of not wanting to compete when others move in. Where Delta runs mainline airplanes upwards of 5+ frequencies a day, we'll run 3 RJs instead as "competition" in those markets. Wouldn't hold my breath for growth.

 

Even if it's not growth, the news is better than, "UAL orders 250 EMB170/190's for it's regional partners."

I don't see any lure, growth or not. FUPM!

 

Name one airline that has merged in recent years to grow organically. I rest my case. FUPM!

 

Respectfully lads, I beg to differ.

While pilot contracts and scope has an effect, but a small one in the long run. It's my firm belief flying will be coming back to mainline as the global economy turns and oil starts a steady march upwards. These 737 orders, coupled with the Busses and 737s on the CAL side and DALs MD90/717 take paints a picture of long run strategic plans.

As fuel goes up, flying goes on bigger planes with less frequency. The regionals go back to what they used to do with next gen 90 seaters and new tech Q400s and ATRs.

Where are the orders for the CSeries and E-Jet? It's all about fuel burn vs amount of seats. Ain't a RJ out there that can touch a all economy MAX or NEO at $200 a barrel. Ms and Pa Kettle better get used to giving their first born to ride an RJ from Podunk, Iowa in 7-10 years.

 

No lure. News flash, united replaces 100% of its fleet. It's an ongoing process, otherwise, we'd be DC3 typed.

 

These 73-9/Max's are a direct 757-2 replacement. Therefore, we need to make sure that those two aircraft PAY THE SAME (unlike Delta)..

Motch

 

Delta.

They just bought 88 mainline aircraft from SWA to replace CRJs 2:1.


And yes, FUPM.

 

Actually, no..
Delta agreed to LEASE 88 B-717's from SWA, starting next year.
It sounds as if they are going to be replacement aircraft for DC-9's..

At the same time, Delta is also planning on getting 737-9's.. but chances are, they will replace 757-2's at some point in the future.

As far as the CRJ's 2:1 is concerned=
Parking -200's is always a good thing.
Replacing them with -700's is a bad thing.

Those -700 and -900's, plus E170/190 are MAINLINE Aircraft. Pure and simple. They are NOT feeders.. they are point to point birds. Should have been flown by Delta Mainline Pilots.

Motch

PS> If you look at our fleet numbers today vs on our merger date, I think you will see that we have shrunk. I don't have the Delta/NWA numbers from 2008.. but it would be interesting to see what they were. My bet is that they have shrunk (slightly)

 

Well, I guess you can put me down for a NO vote then.

 

ST..
I will be a NO Vote if I see that Scope/Sect 1 has not met my mins. I'm also a realist. I realize that DALPA/ALPA just made it harder.

So I will see what is offered, then compare it with what we had (sCAL) and how to relates to sUAL. Then I will (unfortunately) have to compare it with the rest of the industry.
Only then, will I look at the rest of the contract.

That being said, on the sCAL side, we had a Contract Proposal in 2008 (C08) that banded the larger 73's with the 757-2. It also included the A-320/321 aircraft. That was smart. I expect that in any JCBA.

Motch