It's been true since 2003 when I first compared the WN defined contribution plan expenses with the AA defined benefit pension contributions. WN does more than just match employee contributions to 401k plans; it makes a contribution to each employee's account whether or not the employee contributes. Although your worthless union probably wouldn't think to negotiate a similar plan, I gotta think the pilots and FAs wouldn't allow just 401k matches. Maybe the TWU could free-ride on the pilots and FAs negotiating skills on this one.
In 2007, AMR contributed $380 million to its plans, more than the legal minimum required contribution. For the last two or three years, AA has contributed more than the minimum to the plans.
In 2007, WN spent $279 million on all defined contribution retirement plans.
Before someone compares those absolute numbers and declares me wrong, keep in mind that AMR had more than twice as many employees and had more than twice as much revenue as WN. As a percentage of revenue or as a percentage of employee compensation, WN spent a much higher percentage on employee retirement than AMR did.
Will the DB plan always be cheaper than the WN DC plans? No. Long term, DB plans probably cost employers more than DC plans. But for now (and for the past several years), pension costs at AA require less out of pocket cash than if AA adopted a WN-style plan. Arpey and Beer reminded analysts of this disparity a few quarters ago when the analysts asked about AA's pension plan "disadvantage" compared to competitors. The execs reminded the analysts that maybe AA had more than just the employees' retirements in mind - funding the pensions was also advantageous for the company.