Delta CFO Says Airline Is 'Tapped Out'

[CarolA]

I think ASA is owned by Delta and I KNOW that they are TOTALLY dependent on DL. They don't have their own booking engine or anything... so withouth Delta they have NOTHING but some planes.... Don't see them making it. (Not to mention, that without Delta the fact that they have some of the WORST customer service on record becomes even more of an issue!)

 

[Fourfun]

I have family members that are Delta pilots... they have NO intention of going on strike... they have already suffered enough... They have already taking 50% pay cuts between their salary and benefits package. Sure they made Great money .... But they also lived like they did. Now they dont.. they have had to cut back tremendously... (I even tease my sister about having to break down and get a job like the rest of us )
(but its all in good fun)
I am glad to hear so many people on this thread are Not Worried... If people start to worry or panic and Dont book with Delta... They would have no passengers and have no other choice but to go out of business. Same with any other company.. no customrs means no business.
We booked Delta for are family of four "no discounts" and cant wait to fly to WDW in Aug...

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I sure hope that they don't go out. We are scheduled in June with Delta. I just get so nervous with all the talks on the net, and not knowing what or whom to believe. This will only be our second flight, so I am far from an expert. Just one question, if the pilots don't want to strike, then why does all of the talks still go on?

 

[CarolA]

I have friends who are pilots. I know this is going to sound bad, but LOTS of pilots really like toys! My friends drive fancy sports cars, have boats etc.... The other thing they have gotten used to is "free time" A senior pilot for a major airline doesn't work 4 40 hour work weeks each month. They can "frontload" thier hours so that they fly in bursts and then have days off to "play" Most of them know that if they can find another job it's not going to have all these "benefits" And of course since pilots like toys, ANY paycut is going to hurt some of them!

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

So I take it that you feel that they will avoid a strike, so that at least they can keep some of the benefits. I am sorry to be so anxious on this, but I don't like not knowing, and we kinda have to have a flight. Thanks to all for all the help.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

Pilots and management at Northwest Airlines just finished playing a game of chicken. Management and pilots reached an agreement, but after losing $2.6 billion last year -- and more than $4 billion since 2001 -- things still aren't looking particularly rosy for the embattled carrier.

According to a Delta pilot:
The leading Delta executives set themselves up with huge Golden Parachutes so they don't care if Delta goes under.
The leading shareholders have already set themselves up to absorb the fold up.
Delta is doing to their pilots the same thing Northwest did to their pilots. Baiting them with fear and reeling them in like half dead fish...and it's working.

Delta pilots won't strike and Delta will probably stay in business as usual mode for a while, but the flight schedules are going to be constantly changing worse than they are now for a while to come.

 

[CarolA]

I sure hope that they don't go out. We are scheduled in June with Delta. I just get so nervous with all the talks on the net, and not knowing what or whom to believe. This will only be our second flight, so I am far from an expert. Just one question, if the pilots don't want to strike, then why does all of the talks still go on?

Well.. there are a number of theories. Mine is that the Union leadership lives in a fairy tale world where the airlines are actually making money!

Also, the pilots know they will have to give SOMETHING, the airline is asking for EVERYTHING... somewhere in there is the medium they will settle on. Just like they did with NW.....

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

Thanks to all for the information, I get so uneasy about somethings.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I was curious what anyone thought about what the ceo stated to the ap today? It was something about that delta can't give in anymore to the pilots pay, but they would be willing to discuss their pensions. I can't tell what this means or if it means anything. Experts what do you think?

 

[CarolA]

I was curious what anyone thought about what the ceo stated to the ap today? It was something about that delta can't give in anymore to the pilots pay, but they would be willing to discuss their pensions. I can't tell what this means or if it means anything. Experts what do you think?

Actually this may have been good.... pensions appear to be a biggie with the pilots and one they KNOW they won't get at JetBlue, SWA etc....

 

[jcodespoti]

I was curious what anyone thought about what the ceo stated to the ap today? It was something about that delta can't give in anymore to the pilots pay, but they would be willing to discuss their pensions. I can't tell what this means or if it means anything. Experts what do you think?

What else is the CFO going to say? "Hey everybody things are great!!!". I agree with CarolA. Pensions are a nice carrot to dangle in front of the pilots, it might help.

Joe in CT