Seekingthetruth:
Is this the question you want answered? I do not read every post and I had to go back and search this out.
Seekingthetruth asked: "On the other hand if implementing a more efficient operation, be it through increased flying of our assets and rolling hubs has been capable to this management under the current agreements, then why hasn't this happened?"
USA320Pilot answers: US Airways has begun the proposed changes by de-peaking the Philadelphia hub, utilizing Philadelphia's runway 17/35, adding more Caribbean/European long haul flights, and on June 12 restoring the last bank on Saturday nights in Pittsburgh.
The current company pilot staffing will not permit more block hours to average down unit costs unless the company obtains work rule changes and an increased pay cap. In fact, I am worried about staffing for the summer due to the pending thunderstorm problems.
I think we can agree that increased block hours now are not possible with current staffing. However, provided ALPA agrees to increase the pay cap to 96 hours, which I believe is likely, that will provide a 13% increase in flying. This will help the company increase minimum aircraft block hours from 10 to 11.5 hours per day, which will significantly average down unit costs.
Bill Pollock has publicly said that the "Transformation Plan" cannot move forward without employee participation and the likely reason is work rules, therefore, I suspect we well see more changes once we get new labor accords.
By the way, for those who believe the new business plan is not moving forward, I disagree. We may not like the plan, but MAA, EMB-170s, PSA CRJ-200s, affiliate RJs, the United alliance, the GoCaribbean alliance, the Star alliance, GoFares, increased Internet booking, more Kiosks, realigned CTO's, more transatlantic/Caribbean flying, improved Philadelphia baggage service, the new Philadelphia terminals, Philadelphia advertising campaign, and the new Philadelphia operational plan have all been implemented.
Then provided the company and its unions reach new CBA's, the October 2 schedule will have the new business plan flying, which will have dramatic changes in how we market and distribute the product.
Respectfully,
USA320Pilot