Comair Unlikely to Retain DCI Flying
Posted: 02 Oct 2006, 17:58In a new memo to employees this morning, President Don Bornhorst said Comair's response to Delta's RFP for components of its Delta Connection flying will be based in part on pilot costs that have not been restructured and that reflect where we are in negotiations. Comair's bid is due to Delta today, Monday, October 2.
"Today marks the deadline for Comair's response to Delta's request for proposal for components of its Delta Connection flying, including flying on 70- and 50-seat jets currently in our fleet. In communications last week, I said it was "highly unlikely" that Comair would be in a position to submit a competitive bid because we have not completed our restructuring with our organized labor groups. We have made little progress on our pilot negotiations since that time, and we will be forced to reply with pilot costs that have not been restructured and that reflect where we are in negotiations. This certainly will not win new aircraft nor retain the existing fleet."
"Despite discussions held over the weekend with ALPA, we have made little progress toward achieving competitive pilot costs and, as a result, will be bidding with contract terms that actually increase our cost disadvantage and almost certainly prevent us from winning or retaining flying," according to the memo.
The memo goes on to thank those employees and pilots that have made sacrifices and stuck with Comair through this time. It also mentions that Comair will continue to look for growth in areas that we have a quality product and competitive costs, such as Maintenance and Airport Customer Service operations.
I guess I personally would say to those arrogant pilots and flight attendants that thought they didn't deserve a cut that I hope you find unemployment more conducive to your daily life, since we obviously won't be needing you all much past November.
"Today marks the deadline for Comair's response to Delta's request for proposal for components of its Delta Connection flying, including flying on 70- and 50-seat jets currently in our fleet. In communications last week, I said it was "highly unlikely" that Comair would be in a position to submit a competitive bid because we have not completed our restructuring with our organized labor groups. We have made little progress on our pilot negotiations since that time, and we will be forced to reply with pilot costs that have not been restructured and that reflect where we are in negotiations. This certainly will not win new aircraft nor retain the existing fleet."
"Despite discussions held over the weekend with ALPA, we have made little progress toward achieving competitive pilot costs and, as a result, will be bidding with contract terms that actually increase our cost disadvantage and almost certainly prevent us from winning or retaining flying," according to the memo.
The memo goes on to thank those employees and pilots that have made sacrifices and stuck with Comair through this time. It also mentions that Comair will continue to look for growth in areas that we have a quality product and competitive costs, such as Maintenance and Airport Customer Service operations.
I guess I personally would say to those arrogant pilots and flight attendants that thought they didn't deserve a cut that I hope you find unemployment more conducive to your daily life, since we obviously won't be needing you all much past November.