Merger News

[FWAAA]

A major player in Tampa. There's no denying how important it is to have a big presence at TPA.

The quality of analysis at the WSJ has certainly taken a hit. Damn that Rupert Murdoch.

Too bad the combined airline won't be huge at other "important" airports like OAK, CVG, BWI and FLL.

So Fluf, do you do anything here besides cut and paste WSJ articles?

 

[jimntx]

To sum up what WT is saying, nobody will ever top Delta in any shape, anywhere, at anytime. They are, and always will be the biggest, best, the true Kings of the airline industry. They now rule NYC, and he is in all his glory over this situation alone. Nobody can ever compete with them, so why even bother. In due time, I can see all of the other airlines conceding everything to Delta since they can't keep up with them.

WT is no more a cheerleader for DL than you are for LCC. To read your posts is to know that LCC is the savior of AMR, and will show us how to operate in the airline business. Instead of attacking WT personally, why not come up with some data to prove him wrong? The difference between you two is that he has provided data (aka, facts) to support his positions. Why don't you do the same?

Don't bother pointing out that LCC had it's largest quarterly profit in history last quarter until you answer the question...what would that profit have been if LCC were paying industry standard wages to pilots and flight attendants (or even AA wages)? And, the phrase "largest quarterly profit in history" is a meaningless phrase until put into context. If an airline had never made a profit at all up until last quarter, and made a net profit of $1.42, it would still be the "largerst quarterly profit in company history."

 

[FWAAA]

Things should get interesting in BOS also. This is one of the major cities that will double in size with a combined carrier. They will be about 25% of the market share just operating in their hubs alone!

The combined total market share in BOS may in fact be larger than 25%, as that's the mainline total marketshare, according to RITA:

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/airports.asp?pn=1

AA is solely mainline at BOS but US has some Express flights as well, no?

 

[FlyUs]

Yes. US flies to BUF, ROC, SYR, RIC and PIT on Express. On weekends there are non-stop flights to CUN, MBJ, PUJ and PLS. Mainline to PHL, CLT, DCA, PHX and LGA. BOS has the third largest morning fleet launch. I'm assuming AA has DFW, ORD, MIA, JFK and LAX mainline. Anything else on AA? Not a bad combined operation. Hopefully we'll add to that

 

[FWAAA]

Yes, currently, AA flies to the five hubs you listed. I've been predicting that with lower costs resulting from Ch 11 (and the merger), AA would retreat from the "cornerstone only" plan and perhaps restart BOS-SFO, the two largest domestic AA stations that aren't cornerstone cities. Plus perhaps BOS-RDU, BOS-STL and BOS-BNA (2-class 76 seat RJs might be the right size for those routes).

 

[jimntx]

Well, kiss my grits and call me merged. According to the non-rev travel planner on Jetnet (employee computer portal), there are NO non-stop flights on mainline or Eagle between Boston and New York other than BOS-JFK and that is only 4 flights/day. Would someone please tell me that there is a bug in the non-rev travel planner. I would have bet you cash money that there were at least Eagle flights BOS-LGA.

I checked SABRE, there are no Boston-New York flights other than to JFK.

There is no point in restarting BOS-STL. We used to have 3 flights/day in each direction that were pretty much full all the time. In its infinite wisdom, the company decided to abandon that route. WN is grateful for the business. When we stopped that route, they started 3 nonstops/day STL-BOS. Evidently, the route is working quite well for them. Just like STL-MCI, STL-SEA, STL-LAS, STL-PHX...ad nauseum. And, please note, WN did not run us out of those markets. They did not start service until we abandoned those routes.

 

[FWAAA]

jimntx: That used to be the case, but AA pulled Eagle out of BOS when they were looking to spinoff Eagle because the old pilot contract did not permit express to be flown from BOS to AA hubs unless it was wholly-owned Eagle. So if Eagle was spun off, no more express flights to/from BOS. Mainline was added to BOS-JFK to connect BOS to all of JFK's international flights. Now, with the new pilot contract, no restrictions on commuter flights to/from BOS, so perhaps Eagle or 3rd party commuter flights will return. And if the merger happens, of course, all bets are off and BOS may see a sea of 50-seaters again.

 

[jimntx]

Oh, I understood that, but...NO BOS-LGA or BOS-EWR flights at all????

 

[FWAAA]

When the merger happens, LGA-BOS will have plenty of flights. Newark will probably be left to UA.

AA at BOS is certainly a mere shell of its former self. Here's a blast from the past:

http://web.archive.org/web/20000305173752/http://www.amrcorp.com/news/sep2399.htm

163 daily flights to 29 cities. Wow.

"Boston is now American Eagle’s third largest hub – only Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago offer more daily Eagle flights -- and we’ve got big future growth plans for Boston. The message is clear – American Airlines and American Eagle mean business in the Northeast, and especially in Boston."

 

[jimntx]

Just another example of Horton's determination to shrink to profitability, and show the other airlines how to do it. Even though it has never been done in the airline business, Horton knows how. That's why he needs a standalone emergence from BK...to finish his work (or this airline whichever comes first).

It was reported on 6pm news yesterday, that "someone close to the discussions" stated that Horton was "throwing bombs" at the merger idea in meetings with the UCC. Seems he is not happy with the "non-executive chairman" award.

 

[Bob Owens]

When the merger happens, LGA-BOS will have plenty of flights. Newark will probably be left to UA.

AA at BOS is certainly a mere shell of its former self. Here's a blast from the past:

http://web.archive.org/web/20000305173752/http://www.amrcorp.com/news/sep2399.htm

163 daily flights to 29 cities. Wow.

Good luck finding mechanics up there. AA has vacancies. Eagle had helped Boston remain staffed but that well has run dry.

 

[silverbird007]

Oh I didn't miss anything, as all of your "points" are the same. They all point to the superior mothership, Delta. I'm not going to waste my time debating with you, since everyone on here already knows your chant. Find me ONE person on here, except Spectator who hasn't seen thru your sham by this time. I truly do hope that Richard over at DL has put you on his payroll after all of your hard work. I would hate for everyone to think that you were stupid enough to defend DL on here 24/7 for free on your own time.

WT is probably going to have to see a therapist when/if Deltaflot goes back to #3.

 

[jimntx]

I truly do hope that Richard over at DL has put you on his payroll after all of your hard work. I would hate for everyone to think that you were stupid enough to defend DL on here 24/7 for free on your own time.

WT is retired. His time is his own. How much is DP paying you to be on here all day everyday defending LCC? I would hate to think that you are stupid enough to defend LCC on here 24/7 for free on your own time.

 

[FlyUs]

I think BOS will be quite the powerhouse if there's a merger. BOS is US 5th largest city after the 4 hubs and focus city of DCA. I think we carry more passengers per year than DCA. BOS is also # 2 or 3 in terms of FF members.

 

[FWAAA]

Good luck finding mechanics up there. AA has vacancies. Eagle had helped Boston remain staffed but that well has run dry.

True, but that's nothing that a $10 bump in pay rates wouldn't solve. Hopefully, when you guys vote out the worthless union, your new union can figure out how to negotiate fair geo pay for high-cost line station cities so that BOS, NYC, LAX, etc can be staffed with motivated mechanics.