And so it begins..

[legacy-to-LCC]

any legacy consolidation would, i suspect, render the business casual model completely irrelevant, particularly in the domestic realm.
with fewer domestic seats available, the new legacy reality would be competing, almost exclusively, on their premium product offering. full cycle; an artificial return to the days of regulation, in some significant ways... and, revenue improvements realized from higher (primarily domestic) yields would most assuredly be reinvested in premium pax ammenities to differentiate the product.
this is an area of service team IMPOtempe has repeatedly dismissed. and arrogantly, at that...most likely because they are incapable of doing so.
because of what DoUgIe has done to this airline and its fine employees, east & west, when consolidation happens, our hopes of even playing right field for one inning are done. DoUgIe's one shot at fame was with delta...and we all know what kind of response that got...why would that justified response be different from any of the other legacy carriers? it wouldn't; who would be happy about marrying el-cheapo airlines?
bother way, when do we announce fourth quarter earnings? :blink:

 

[BoeingBoy]

bother way, when do we announce fourth quarter earnings? :blink:

Nothing yet on the calender of events on the website. Should be late this month.

Jim

 

[767jetz]

NW-CO leaves a pretty gaping hole west of Texas. Perhaps a breakup of LCC is on the horizon.

I didn't think of that, but you may have a point. Breaking up the HP/US merger would solve many problems. That would leave the East to sell off the shuttle and maybe CLT to the highest bidder. (Maybe even LH). SW would probably bid on PHL assets.

Problem solved.

 

[N924PS]

I didn't think of that, but you may have a point. Breaking up the HP/US merger would solve many problems. That would leave the East to sell off the shuttle and maybe CLT to the highest bidder. (Maybe even LH). SW would probably bid on PHL assets.

Problem solved.

Unlikely scenario, but speculate all you wish.

It just might surprise everyone, especially you UAL types and the rest of the whiners and naysayers on this forum when LCC turns out doing just fine on its own.

Did you Marvin Mainliner's finally get a rid of the last poor Capital and PanAm pilots?

Can't wait to see how the UAL/DL seniority list comes together under ALPA merger policy. Maybe you can coax George Nicolau away from his villa to handle your arbitration. I'm sure George and a couple of pilot neutrals from say, FedEx and Comair can do the job for you. Problem solved.

Good luck.

 

[InternationalShannon]

They should be...if not...screw DP


As for the Keep Delta My Delta campaign...it was really an "Keep US AIRWAYS YOUR US AIRWAYS" campaign but codenamed Delta.

Ha ha - - good one my darling

 

[Us/boston]

There you go. This sadly might be how it ends.
View attachment 6979

If there is one thing I have learned in my 20 years at US is that It simply will not be left behind. US will not die. Delta and United/Northwest can talk all they want but if a merger between any of them means US is left in the dust than US will take all 3 billion in cash she has and offer way to much money to buy someone.(United. As it should be.). This management may suck but they have a lot of survivor skills. US hasn't a clue how to run an airline but If you have questions on how to survive just give us a call we wrote the bible on it. Just a last note. I took the buyout so this will not effect me but I look forward to US throwing a wrench in anyones plans to close her doors. Good luck to all US employees. Don't worry US will be part of consolidation and most likely at the front of the line.

 

[gaucho99]

Nothing yet on the calender of events on the website. Should be late this month.

Jim

January 24. 10:00 AM Mountain Time

 

[USstew23]

No one is mentionng the fact that this is the last year for the Bush administration - a government that has been merger tolerant - and that foreign ownership may be an issue which is revisited.

Also, if two weddings take place without USAirways, it doesn't follow that we will be the funeral. The other mergers will probably result in some reduction in capacity - giving us some temporary breathing room - if we can ever get our act together.

I kind of thought the same thing, if the others merger and leave US out, then maybe US will pick up some of what they have to toss, or maybe another LCC (F9 or B6) or maybe HA. Honestly who knows, even if something does happen it will be something along the lines none of us can even imagine. Who knows maybe all the Big 6 will piece themselves into the Big 3!!

 

[sharonstoneseat]

Or need to - they enplane more than 2 million more passengers a month than the next biggest legacy. Even if the #2 & #3 legacies merge (DL & UA), by the time they reduced duplicate capacity and divested any assest required by the DOT American would be in about the same position size-wise as UA now - #2. Only a merging of CO, DL, NW, and UA that resulted in 2 carriers would possibly push AA down to #3.

So they can afford to sit on the sidelines, look at any assets that become available, and watch what happens.

Jim

Very hard to imagine American allowing anyone to eclipse them in size or take their identity as #1. I think they will be more determined to keep their crown than Delta was to keep their noble name. I say that the goverment is sold on the idea of the big 3 and American will still be #1.

The next Administrtion surely does not want to deal with airline consolidation and will urge the industry and the DOJ to have this all done by Inaguration Day. American and Continental are Texas based and our lame duck merger friendly president is.........

And somebody is coming for US. We may see ourselves as a wallflower but it ain't necessarily so.

Let's face it.....anything can happen.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Very hard to imagine American allowing anyone to eclipse them in size or take their identity as #1.

Have you looked at who the biggest is by enplanements.......WN passed AA over a year ago. AA also played second fiddle to UA for years and didn't rush out to merge their way to #1. Finally, AA's growth has been primarily internal rather than thru merger - with the Reno Air sorry - Air Cal (which still left AA #2 as I recall) and TWA (which was after AA surpassed UA as I recall) mergers being relatively minor exceptions.

Let's face it.....anything can happen.

That is definitely true, but it takes two to tango. My guess (and that's all it is) is that AA will be content to see what assets become available with any required divestitures and pick what they want.

Jim

 

[bigbusboy]

From everything I read about the coming consolidation it is not about what can this airline bring to that airline, rather what can we cut out of the combined airlines to make more profit. It’s all about
reduction. The way I look at it we as a work force are better off left out while the big 4 go for it. With UA+DL they would have to give up some east flying mostly DCA (good for US) they would also ramp down
either SLC or DEN (good for US). I doubt there will be a DL+NW merger (not enough fat to cut) so NW+CO would probably hook-up and with that the end of CLE or MEM or both with EWR and DTW so close. With more capacity out its……(good for US). We have the most new aircraft on order and with a small purchase of say HA we could have a lot more wide body lift a way to get into the far east and the only other SYD service by a U.S. carrier + they have a large 330/350 order that would be nice. That said Parker could f%$& it all up, but I think we could do just fine without the big 4.

And this scenario is what makes the most sense for US. Sitting this round out might not be a bad idea. Let the others feel the pain for a while.

 

[does this plane go to paris]

Jim, I what do you make of WN's CEO Kelly making noise a few weeks back stating that he is willing acquire someone? he stated that he is looking specifically at the two culture's and seniority list's. He seems to be looking under the hood and kicking some tires as well.

 

[BoeingBoy]

I took the article I read to mean that WN wasn't dead set against merging if the right opportunity came along, but wasn't actively shopping. That's just my take, however.

Jim

 

[767jetz]

Don't worry US will be part of consolidation and most likely at the front of the line.

Just a fantasy. (IMO of course) Keep dreaming.

 

[WCT]

Has anyone caught in the original article that MOST US CARRIER'S will not post an 4th quarter profit for 2007?? Does that include US? According to the clowns, we were suppose to be profitable thru 2008? Is this another Sandcastle lie? No profit sharing for anyone???!! :angry: