Well it appears that everyone who's spoken here, is in agreement, that BIG cuts are coming.
(sadly it's a NO brainer)
For those of you NOT around before 1983, please pay close attention.
(When/If they really get serious) NO carrier can re-invent itself better tha AA !
Though Not exactly the same situation(1980-1983/2008), there ARE a lot of similiarities.
As they did back then, AA needs to "jettison" every bit of oil burning dead weight as possible.
They can do this by utilizing every 34/40/44/50/70 seater, and/737/757/767/777/A-300 to its Maximum profit level possible, by the Fall/08 scedule !!
Using BDL as an example, it's been almost 2 years, that HDQ replaced S-80's BDL/ORD with RJ's.
OK.
Then do it on some of the MANY trips from LGA/ORD, or PHL/ORD.(AA was making GOOD $$ on the BDL/ORD trips with the S-80's)
If there are real money making trips, on any route that operates with a S-80,....than OK, it stays.
If the "80's make up (say) 50% of AA's total daily ops, .....then get real GOD DAM creative, and get the 50% down to(say) 33%, then make the resulting cuts.
Y E S, I realize a 1/3 cut in capacity is HUGE, but if it's necessary, then....JUST DO IT !!!!!!
As the new 737's come on line, then start adding capacity back to the overall schedule.
How many times on here, I've heard the BULL SH!T, .."That you can NOT shrink to profitability"
Well guess what. CRANDALL DID IT, back in 83'....and we ALL know how AA thrived going into the rest of the 80's and 90's
And OH by the way, our competition will be in a similiar boat, but with many more holes allowing water to come rushing in.
Bottom line, we OUTLAST everyone else to the point that someone goes belly up.(think....extra(say) 757's suddenly become available in a fire sale)
Once Industry capacity is reduced, then, and ONLY then, are the 80's brought back on line, just long enough for a replacement "37 to arrive.
The Industry at least(now) is in a position that Constant Incremental fare hikes WILL Stick .
To a certain extent, it doesn't matter how much Fuel becomes,.............since it has a MORE detrimental $$$ effect on at least two other carriers.
As for DL/NW,...........Anderson/Steenland may REGRET the day that they did a LARGE merge during this HIGHLY uncertain financial period.
"LETS RUMBLE" !!!!