31 replies to this topic

[WorldTraveler]

Interesting to go back and look at what was said not too long ago... and recognize that some people did get it pretty right.
Also worth noting that DL and NW divested virtually nothing and managed to get fairly speedy DOJ approval - the slot swap took FAR longer.

And then there is this phrase which proves why consolidation continues to be an issue in the US airline industry...

chevyman, on 19 January 2007 - 10:46 AM, said:

5. Gotta remember very low oil prices,good economy, and great outlook for airline industry which doesn't bode well for consolidation angle of struggling carrier syndrome merger justification.

fuel is high and going higher, the economy in the US is not great and it is even worse elsewhere... and the combination of these two only make it easier to argue that fewer carriers can survive as demand is consolidated across a smaller industry. In Europe, airlines are just plain going out of business... no mergers or rescues are even possible.
.
THAT is Parker's worst fear regarding US.

[wings396]

US is what it is due to a lack of vision from the top. You can't blaim the employees, as they have never had any control of this issue. I don't blame Parker either, as he came along years after US was mismanaged. We went thru a handful of CEOs that were short sighted, with most of them focused on selling the airline. Parker is trying to do what he can with what he has. I think that he has done a decent job keeping the company alive thru rough times, and I give him credit for trying to solidify the company and employees jobs with his merger efforts. We could have somebody that does nothing, and just let the company fade away in due time.

[Move2CLT]

Itestwell, on 17 January 2007 - 01:12 PM, said:

Maybe it's time for the MEC to make some noise?

Ask USAPA how its done.

[Harry Callahan]

Move2CLT, on 04 February 2012 - 01:47 PM, said:

Ask USAPA how its done.

Damn now that makes me

[wings396]

And the pilot scuffle hijackes yet another thread...
Pathetic..

[Beancounter]

wings396, on 04 February 2012 - 02:17 PM, said:

And the pilot scuffle hijackes yet another thread...
Pathetic..

You have to realize, we may only constitute 15% of the employee group, but we have 90% of the entire groups ego.

[robbedagain]

but what is to stop parker from ordering new planes or getting other planes to do new places?

[brokenwrench]

brokenwrench, on 18 January 2007 - 10:06 AM, said:

My opinion for what it is worth. I hope I am wrong on a couple of points, here goes.

Delta goes stand-alone after Bethune convinces the creditors that there is more value/less risk in Delta going it alone and merging with NW later. To put the creditors doubts about this at ease the DL BOD names Bethune Chairman of the Board.

US discovers that while they spent all this time and energy on a merger that did not go thru they now have a plate full of labor problems on the home front.

DL & NW merge in late 07 early 08.
UA & CO follow.
US orders a boat load of airbus wide bodies to grow their Atlantic routes on their own (what a concept). They also put in a bid for Alaska but are out bid by AA.

All the "experts" that once sang Doug's praises now criticize him for not taking care of his own before waste ting all this time and energy on a merger that did not happen.

Obviously it was Grinstein and not Bethune who did the convincing to the creditors.
Perhaps the US and AA bidding war for AK is still to come.

Gotta say I got it pretty dang close!!