some info just in...
_________________________________________
A couple of pilots on my "news" list have pointed out one of the
challenges facing pilots with the upcoming "re-engagement" of ALPA and
Delta negotiators. The sale and deferal of 19 aircraft announced yesterday,
mean lack of jobs and forward movement. You're talking about roughly 270
pilot jobs. Add the possibility that the company "might" sell another
10
737-800s, and there's another 140+ pilot jobs. Those 737-800 jobs would
affect pilots from roughly seniority numbers 2500 to 9000. Add to that the
fact that over 1300 pilots were furloughed, the pilots are already
contributing significantly to the company's "cost reductions". This would
seem to delay any near-term return of additional furloughed pilots. That
will be critical to the success of any "concessions" pilot may agree to.
If you add that lack of movement, the continued retirement of other
mainline aircraft, over 1000 pilots remaining on furlough after 1 Jan 04,
AND the company request for cash concessions, it becomes very substantial.
This will just add to the challenges ALPA and management will face in
upcoming negotiations. Of course that is apparent to many who have been
following the events of the past year.
As I responded to these pilots, it's always appropriate to make
input to your elected reps. Reaching an agreement that will be ratified by
the line pilots will not be easy.
__________________________________________________
then there's this article:
Earnings
Delta Air Narrows Loss, Sets Plan to Reduce Fleet
By EVAN PEREZ -- Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Delta Air Lines, boosted by stronger summer travel, reported a sharply
narrower third-quarter loss and announced the sale of 11 aircraft to
further pare costs as it struggles to return to profitability.
The third-biggest U.S. carrier said it posted a loss of $164 million, or
$1.36 a share, in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $326 million,
or $2.67 a share, in the year-earlier quarter. The company previously said
it expected a loss of $200 million to $250 million for the latest quarter,
reflecting improved demand for travel. Still, Leo F. Mullin, Delta's
chairman and chief executive, said the company has big challenges ahead.
In an interview, Mr. Mullin said that with Delta's survival now secure, the
Atlanta company is focused on improving customer service and cutting its
costs to correspond with the lower-revenue environment he now believes will
continue at U.S. airlines for the foreseeable future.
Chief among those costs, he said, is Delta's pilot labor, which is markedly
more costly than at larger rivals AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and UAL
Corp.'s United Airlines. Mr. Mullin said he doesn't blame the pilots for
winning the industry's best-paying contract in 2001, just months before the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he contends that the compensation package
can't be sustained at current, sharply lower levels of passenger volume.
"Sept. 11 changed everything, and we have to be realistic that it's a new
world," Mr. Mullin said. "Getting relief on the pilot contract is really
important."
Delta's top brass will meet with the newly elected leaders of Delta's Air
Line Pilots Association unit on Friday in hopes of restarting wage-cut
talks, which stalled in July. Delta has asked its pilots for a 26.5% hourly
wage reduction and cancellation of a 4.5% pay raise next year, as well as a
second round of talks to change work rules. Last week, the company rolled
out plans for new work rules for its flight attendants, who aren't
unionized, which could save the company about $40 million a year.
Mr. Mullin said the company is pleased with its new low-fare Song unit,
which is serving to fend off low-fare competitors and as a testing ground
for new initiatives, such as onboard food sales, for the main Delta brand.
For the quarter, Delta said revenue increased slightly to $3.44 billion
from $3.42 billion a year earlier. The quarter's results included a gain of
$9 million, or eight cents a share, related to a debt exchange, and a
charge of $1 million, or a penny a share, because of derivatives and
hedging moves. Without these items, Delta said its loss for the quarter was
$172 million, or $1.43 a share, compared with a loss of $212 million, or
$1.75 a share, a year earlier.
Delta's load factor, or the percentage of seats filled, was 76.9%, up 2.6
percentage points from a year earlier. Even with some increase in demand
during the summer, overall traffic hasn't returned to the levels seen
before the war in Iraq.
Delta said it would save $500 million in capital expenditures through 2005
by selling to an unidentified third party 11 Boeing 737s that were
scheduled for delivery in 2005. Delta said it will record a charge of $26
million, after taxes, in the fourth quarter, related to the sale of the 11
aircraft. Delta also plans to defer until 2008 the delivery of eight
additional B737s scheduled for delivery in 2005.
At 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading Tuesday, Delta
shares were down 6.5%, or 96 cents, at $13.74.
________________________________
what I don't like is this:
[ QUOTE ]
"Sept. 11 changed everything, and we have to be realistic that it's a new
world," Mr. Mullin said. "Getting relief on the pilot contract is really important."
[/ QUOTE ]
my reaction - "so is giving back the money you stole to pay off upper management's retirements and raises Mr. Mullen"
and this: [ QUOTE ]
sharply lower levels of passenger volume.
[/ QUOTE ]
my reaction - "Doug can't even find a seat on delta from PHX to DFW to just get to work on any particular day - he has to take Am West or American (he may move to ATL base just cuz of that)... and that's considered low?"
#$%@* butthead!
anyone have any info on what the new "worker bee" rules are for the F/A's?????? I wonder if they're getting screwed royally!!
man - if i had the job of firing him - he'd be escorted out to Atlanta's worst city section minus his shoes and wallet... (I feel better now! haha
)
_________________________________________
A couple of pilots on my "news" list have pointed out one of the
challenges facing pilots with the upcoming "re-engagement" of ALPA and
Delta negotiators. The sale and deferal of 19 aircraft announced yesterday,
mean lack of jobs and forward movement. You're talking about roughly 270
pilot jobs. Add the possibility that the company "might" sell another
10
737-800s, and there's another 140+ pilot jobs. Those 737-800 jobs would
affect pilots from roughly seniority numbers 2500 to 9000. Add to that the
fact that over 1300 pilots were furloughed, the pilots are already
contributing significantly to the company's "cost reductions". This would
seem to delay any near-term return of additional furloughed pilots. That
will be critical to the success of any "concessions" pilot may agree to.
If you add that lack of movement, the continued retirement of other
mainline aircraft, over 1000 pilots remaining on furlough after 1 Jan 04,
AND the company request for cash concessions, it becomes very substantial.
This will just add to the challenges ALPA and management will face in
upcoming negotiations. Of course that is apparent to many who have been
following the events of the past year.
As I responded to these pilots, it's always appropriate to make
input to your elected reps. Reaching an agreement that will be ratified by
the line pilots will not be easy.
__________________________________________________
then there's this article:
Earnings
Delta Air Narrows Loss, Sets Plan to Reduce Fleet
By EVAN PEREZ -- Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Delta Air Lines, boosted by stronger summer travel, reported a sharply
narrower third-quarter loss and announced the sale of 11 aircraft to
further pare costs as it struggles to return to profitability.
The third-biggest U.S. carrier said it posted a loss of $164 million, or
$1.36 a share, in the third quarter, compared with a loss of $326 million,
or $2.67 a share, in the year-earlier quarter. The company previously said
it expected a loss of $200 million to $250 million for the latest quarter,
reflecting improved demand for travel. Still, Leo F. Mullin, Delta's
chairman and chief executive, said the company has big challenges ahead.
In an interview, Mr. Mullin said that with Delta's survival now secure, the
Atlanta company is focused on improving customer service and cutting its
costs to correspond with the lower-revenue environment he now believes will
continue at U.S. airlines for the foreseeable future.
Chief among those costs, he said, is Delta's pilot labor, which is markedly
more costly than at larger rivals AMR Corp.'s American Airlines and UAL
Corp.'s United Airlines. Mr. Mullin said he doesn't blame the pilots for
winning the industry's best-paying contract in 2001, just months before the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But he contends that the compensation package
can't be sustained at current, sharply lower levels of passenger volume.
"Sept. 11 changed everything, and we have to be realistic that it's a new
world," Mr. Mullin said. "Getting relief on the pilot contract is really
important."
Delta's top brass will meet with the newly elected leaders of Delta's Air
Line Pilots Association unit on Friday in hopes of restarting wage-cut
talks, which stalled in July. Delta has asked its pilots for a 26.5% hourly
wage reduction and cancellation of a 4.5% pay raise next year, as well as a
second round of talks to change work rules. Last week, the company rolled
out plans for new work rules for its flight attendants, who aren't
unionized, which could save the company about $40 million a year.
Mr. Mullin said the company is pleased with its new low-fare Song unit,
which is serving to fend off low-fare competitors and as a testing ground
for new initiatives, such as onboard food sales, for the main Delta brand.
For the quarter, Delta said revenue increased slightly to $3.44 billion
from $3.42 billion a year earlier. The quarter's results included a gain of
$9 million, or eight cents a share, related to a debt exchange, and a
charge of $1 million, or a penny a share, because of derivatives and
hedging moves. Without these items, Delta said its loss for the quarter was
$172 million, or $1.43 a share, compared with a loss of $212 million, or
$1.75 a share, a year earlier.
Delta's load factor, or the percentage of seats filled, was 76.9%, up 2.6
percentage points from a year earlier. Even with some increase in demand
during the summer, overall traffic hasn't returned to the levels seen
before the war in Iraq.
Delta said it would save $500 million in capital expenditures through 2005
by selling to an unidentified third party 11 Boeing 737s that were
scheduled for delivery in 2005. Delta said it will record a charge of $26
million, after taxes, in the fourth quarter, related to the sale of the 11
aircraft. Delta also plans to defer until 2008 the delivery of eight
additional B737s scheduled for delivery in 2005.
At 4 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading Tuesday, Delta
shares were down 6.5%, or 96 cents, at $13.74.
________________________________
what I don't like is this:
[ QUOTE ]
"Sept. 11 changed everything, and we have to be realistic that it's a new
world," Mr. Mullin said. "Getting relief on the pilot contract is really important."
[/ QUOTE ]
my reaction - "so is giving back the money you stole to pay off upper management's retirements and raises Mr. Mullen"

and this: [ QUOTE ]
sharply lower levels of passenger volume.
[/ QUOTE ]
my reaction - "Doug can't even find a seat on delta from PHX to DFW to just get to work on any particular day - he has to take Am West or American (he may move to ATL base just cuz of that)... and that's considered low?"
#$%@* butthead!


anyone have any info on what the new "worker bee" rules are for the F/A's?????? I wonder if they're getting screwed royally!!
man - if i had the job of firing him - he'd be escorted out to Atlanta's worst city section minus his shoes and wallet... (I feel better now! haha

