Equipment Bid 2025-01 result

[hithere]

Of the 80 Captain vacancies system-wide in the 2025-01 equipment bid (Jazz usually has two equipment bids per year), 69 went unfilled. That means only 11 FOs were qualified to bid the left seat and were interested in doing so. Those 80 vacancies were probably just to cover retirements and any current Captains projected to flow to AC. This is not sustainable

[cykj]

Ouch.

[cdnavater]

Yes, ouch!
Also, those 11 upgrades will likely be gone before they even do 6 months in the left seat!
We need a plan to attract higher time pilots who could upgrade very quickly, 3000 plus two crew environment would be awesome but given even AC is struggling to find applicants over 2000 hours, I’m not holding out any hope!
AC should buy Jazz, all hiring goes directly to Jazz and get a number at AC on day 1, however that looks is above my pay grade.

[Me262]

Why would anyone bid captain when the next step is to go mainline, WJ, Porter, ME3 or down south if you have dual citizenship. Unless you really like CDs on reserve for the next 5 years if you're crazy enough to want to stay on lower than mainline FO salary but wearing 4 stripes. Don't get me wrong, the company itself is great in almost every other aspect, but those don't pay the bills and rent.

[rudder]

Of the 80 Captain vacancies system-wide in the 2025-01 equipment bid (Jazz usually has two equipment bids per year), 69 went unfilled. That means only 11 FOs were qualified to bid the left seat and were interested in doing so. Those 80 vacancies were probably just to cover retirements and any current Captains projected to flow to AC. This is not sustainable

That has been the case for virtually all of the post-COVID timeframe.

Solutions implemented? Poorly thought out and poorly executed. Did not resolve retention, attrition, or experiential hiring demographic challenges. The term ‘day late - dollar short’ comes to mind. Even the JAZ MEC stuck their finger in it making certain that the conditions for post-age 65 pilots were so unappetizing that only a true masochist would choose to remain. The JAZ LOU looks nothing like the WJ LOU. If you cannot even keep the lifers, how could you possibly expect to keep those with one foot out the door?

The only solution for staffing Express (any Express operator, not limited to Jazz) is a comprehensive multi-lateral solution that addresses compensation, retirement, QOL, job security, and career progression. The US regional carriers (and their mainline partners) have figured it out. Not so in Canada.

Right now, AC appears headed off in its own direction. It is their show. If AC would rather fly a 150 seat airplane on half the frequency, that is their prerogative (subject to their obligations under the CPA with CHR and subject to slot controlled airports with a use-it-or-lose-it obligations).

For over four decades many have said “there must be a better way” but really nothing has changed. So the odds of a ‘game changing’ initiative in 2025 are not great. Just another bandaid.

[Man_in_the_sky]

Yes, ouch!
Also, those 11 upgrades will likely be gone before they even do 6 months in the left seat!
We need a plan to attract higher time pilots who could upgrade very quickly, 3000 plus two crew environment would be awesome but given even AC is struggling to find applicants over 2000 hours, I’m not holding out any hope!
AC should buy Jazz, all hiring goes directly to Jazz and get a number at AC on day 1, however that looks is above my pay grade.

that would solve problem quickly. No more OTS at AC . you get to jazz, get your number and flow naturally. no interview, you're good for the express, you're good for the bigger toy.

[truedude]

I think it is pretty clear at this point that there is no plan to fix it and very little leadership coming from AC in the form of a long term vision for the airline. Accountants aren't usually known for their imagination.

And as the problem gets worse, the company starts to patch holes, usually be degrading QOL items, such as scheduling rules, which in turn make people look for work elsewhere, only making things worse still.

[Inverted2]

Pay simply isn’t there to entice upgrades, make a tad more and have a truly horrendous schedule for many years. Plus many of the new hires are Cygnet program grads so they aren’t upgradeable for several years. Also from what I’m told the post-65 jet spots are almost full now.

[thepoors]

Yes, ouch!
Also, those 11 upgrades will likely be gone before they even do 6 months in the left seat!
We need a plan to attract higher time pilots who could upgrade very quickly, 3000 plus two crew environment would be awesome but given even AC is struggling to find applicants over 2000 hours, I’m not holding out any hope!
AC should buy Jazz, all hiring goes directly to Jazz and get a number at AC on day 1, however that looks is above my pay grade.

that would solve problem quickly. No more OTS at AC . you get to jazz, get your number and flow naturally. no interview, you're good for the express, you're good for the bigger toy.

I don't know that it would. I don't think it can fix the capt shortage fast enough. They attempted this with the flow agreement and look how that's ended up. It's a good idea in theory that could maybe work long term but Jazz just isn't big enough to support it. US majors all have multiple regionals to pull from which is what you need for that system to be sustainable.

Those with seniority and a good schedule at Jazz probably don't want to go to AC anyway. So you're going to end up with the same issue of wasted training resources on recent upgrades that will leave as soon as they can.

Not to mention, AC already can't meet their recruiting requirements. No OTS hiring would make it impossible. They would strip Jazz clean of everyone except lifers and 500hr wonders.

I think Jazz's days are numbered. We are seeing the routes being cannibalized with the 220 as that fleet grows. It's all pointing to a reduction of Jazz flying into a small niche (i.e. corner). And then AC management will question whether that niche is worth servicing.

[daedalusx]

Yes, ouch!
Also, those 11 upgrades will likely be gone before they even do 6 months in the left seat!
We need a plan to attract higher time pilots who could upgrade very quickly, 3000 plus two crew environment would be awesome but given even AC is struggling to find applicants over 2000 hours, I’m not holding out any hope!
AC should buy Jazz, all hiring goes directly to Jazz and get a number at AC on day 1, however that looks is above my pay grade.

that would solve problem quickly. No more OTS at AC . you get to jazz, get your number and flow naturally. no interview, you're good for the express, you're good for the bigger toy.

I don't know that it would. I don't think it can fix the capt shortage fast enough. They attempted this with the flow agreement and look how that's ended up. It's a good idea in theory that could maybe work long term but Jazz just isn't big enough to support it. US majors all have multiple regionals to pull from which is what you need for that system to be sustainable.

Those with seniority and a good schedule at Jazz probably don't want to go to AC anyway. So you're going to end up with the same issue of wasted training resources on recent upgrades that will leave as soon as they can.

Not to mention, AC already can't meet their recruiting requirements. No OTS hiring would make it impossible. They would strip Jazz clean of everyone except lifers and 500hr wonders.

I think Jazz's days are numbered. We are seeing the routes being cannibalized with the 220 as that fleet grows. It's all pointing to a reduction of Jazz flying into a small niche (i.e. corner). And then AC management will question whether that niche is worth servicing.

AC will always need the regionals to feed their WBs

[AA123455]

US flying is down big time, just wait until we go into recession the smaller gauge aircraft will become more valuable, not less. Just wait.

[cdnavater]

US flying is down big time, just wait until we go into recession the smaller gauge aircraft will become more valuable, not less. Just wait.

WJ is saying U.S booking down 25% since Trump started talking about the tariffs!

[Inverted2]

Not just the tariffs. Most everything down there is the same price more or less. But you throw another 40% on top after the currency exchange. No thanks.

[Nick678]

that would solve problem quickly. No more OTS at AC . you get to jazz, get your number and flow naturally. no interview, you're good for the express, you're good for the bigger toy.

I don't know that it would. I don't think it can fix the capt shortage fast enough. They attempted this with the flow agreement and look how that's ended up. It's a good idea in theory that could maybe work long term but Jazz just isn't big enough to support it. US majors all have multiple regionals to pull from which is what you need for that system to be sustainable.

Those with seniority and a good schedule at Jazz probably don't want to go to AC anyway. So you're going to end up with the same issue of wasted training resources on recent upgrades that will leave as soon as they can.

Not to mention, AC already can't meet their recruiting requirements. No OTS hiring would make it impossible. They would strip Jazz clean of everyone except lifers and 500hr wonders.

I think Jazz's days are numbered. We are seeing the routes being cannibalized with the 220 as that fleet grows. It's all pointing to a reduction of Jazz flying into a small niche (i.e. corner). And then AC management will question whether that niche is worth servicing.

AC will always need the regionals to feed their WBs

A couple of dh4 for the short hops the rest the 220 could do

[truedude]

I don't know that it would. I don't think it can fix the capt shortage fast enough. They attempted this with the flow agreement and look how that's ended up. It's a good idea in theory that could maybe work long term but Jazz just isn't big enough to support it. US majors all have multiple regionals to pull from which is what you need for that system to be sustainable.

Those with seniority and a good schedule at Jazz probably don't want to go to AC anyway. So you're going to end up with the same issue of wasted training resources on recent upgrades that will leave as soon as they can.

Not to mention, AC already can't meet their recruiting requirements. No OTS hiring would make it impossible. They would strip Jazz clean of everyone except lifers and 500hr wonders.

I think Jazz's days are numbered. We are seeing the routes being cannibalized with the 220 as that fleet grows. It's all pointing to a reduction of Jazz flying into a small niche (i.e. corner). And then AC management will question whether that niche is worth servicing.

AC will always need the regionals to feed their WBs

A couple of dh4 for the short hops the rest the 220 could do

Sounds a lot like "they don't need the 146, nothing we can't do with the DC-9" 30 years later and the same tired arguments are still being made.

[cdnavater]

AC will always need the regionals to feed their WBs

A couple of dh4 for the short hops the rest the 220 could do

Sounds a lot like "they don't need the 146, nothing we can't do with the DC-9" 30 years later and the same tired arguments are still being made.

Funny thing but not surprising in any way, pretty sure Nick678 was at Jazz, same old same old for sure.

[SkyBagPiper]

What’s open on this bid left seat in regards to Equipment and bases?

YYZ: Q400: ?
CRJ: ?
ERJ: ?

YUL: Etc?

Thanks

[Me262]

What’s open on this bid left seat in regards to Equipment and bases?

YYZ: Q400: ?
CRJ: ?
ERJ: ?

YUL: Etc?

Thanks

You can pick and choose other than YYC

[Kosiw]

Given the staffing issues at Jazz, how many tails in the fleet are "parked" at any one time... Anyone have an idea?

[Inverted2]

I wouldn’t say too many are “parked” but fleet utilization is way down. Some fins only do a couple flights a day and there’s lots of spares if your plane breaks.

[rudder]

Given the staffing issues at Jazz, how many tails in the fleet are "parked" at any one time... Anyone have an idea?

Current Jazz fleet not really ‘parked’ (other than CRJ200’s which were removed from the Express operation at AC request) but rather is under-utilized due to staffing shortfalls.

Jazz Express permanent fleet is reverting to 80 aircraft during 2026. Departing during 2025 are 8 Q400’s. Departing during 2026 will be a further 6 Q400’s and 5 CRJ900’s. Jazz fleet at Dec 31 2026 will be 80 aircraft.

Page 11 of today’s CHR press release of Q4 2024 and YE 2024 Financial Results.

https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/view ... 9b821ccaa6

[AA123455]

Missed profit expectations, fleet reduction still on schedule for 2026…. Ouch.

[CaptDukeNukem]

Given the staffing issues at Jazz, how many tails in the fleet are "parked" at any one time... Anyone have an idea?

Current Jazz fleet not really ‘parked’ (other than CRJ200’s which were removed from the Express operation at AC request) but rather is under-utilized due to staffing shortfalls.

Jazz Express permanent fleet is reverting to 80 aircraft during 2026. Departing during 2025 are 8 Q400’s. Departing during 2026 will be a further 6 Q400’s and 5 CRJ900’s. Jazz fleet at Dec 31 2026 will be 80 aircraft.

Page 11 of today’s CHR press release of Q4 2024 and YE 2024 Financial Results.

https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/view ... 9b821ccaa6

Link no longer available. I’m very interested in reading this.

[rudder]

Given the staffing issues at Jazz, how many tails in the fleet are "parked" at any one time... Anyone have an idea?

Current Jazz fleet not really ‘parked’ (other than CRJ200’s which were removed from the Express operation at AC request) but rather is under-utilized due to staffing shortfalls.

Jazz Express permanent fleet is reverting to 80 aircraft during 2026. Departing during 2025 are 8 Q400’s. Departing during 2026 will be a further 6 Q400’s and 5 CRJ900’s. Jazz fleet at Dec 31 2026 will be 80 aircraft.

Page 11 of today’s CHR press release of Q4 2024 and YE 2024 Financial Results.

https://www.sedarplus.ca/csa-party/view ... 9b821ccaa6

Link no longer available. I’m very interested in reading this.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/c ... 28907.html

[PittBoss]

Yes, ouch!
Also, those 11 upgrades will likely be gone before they even do 6 months in the left seat!
We need a plan to attract higher time pilots who could upgrade very quickly, 3000 plus two crew environment would be awesome but given even AC is struggling to find applicants over 2000 hours, I’m not holding out any hope!
AC should buy Jazz, all hiring goes directly to Jazz and get a number at AC on day 1, however that looks is above my pay grade.

LOL