Originally Posted by
sfozrhfco
These cuts were sold as a temporary measure. Temporary cuts which were going to be a few weeks, then months, are now extended to years with lots of new hires needed just to keep the now reduced schedule. QX management themselves said that they are losing 30% of their pilots each year so is the plan to keep cutting the schedule if they can't hire and train new pilots fast enough? Yes, I suppose it is better to face reality and only operate a reduced schedule but this was not how it was sold when this mess started. As the bar for achieving success keeps getting lower and lower, it does make it easier to achieve.
And the reality of a permanently reduced schedule will have long term effect. As Delta enters the majority of Horizon served markets, they are better positioned to offer more convenient options to those of us in the hinterlands who are now relegated to flying when AAG dictates rather than what we need. The convenience factor cannot be overlooked. Lets take two scenarios: First: Look at markets that compete with automobiles(EAT,YKM,PDX etc) Will it be more convenient to now drive to SEA to make a connection? Many do it now. Will these drivers increase ?Second, look at YVR,YLW,YEG and YYC. Delta has 3 out of those 4. and has signed a new expanded partnership with Westjet. This gives those Canadian customers a loyalty program that covers all of Canada, plus all Delta destinations . When the program takes full effect in one year, you'll likely see AS/QX fade from those markets as Delta and Westjet offer tons of Eastbound departures from those cities without the need to detour through SEA. Combine that with WJ expanded ns frequency to California destinations, and AS might be ceding those markets to Delta/WJ. AAG seems to not care as their strategy seems centered on the Virgin "opportunity" with less regard for current destination that feed traffic. Time will tell if this is a viable strategy.