Air Transat Fleet

[verybadman]

Canjet is doing a fair job considering they went from 5 to 14 aircraft overnightt. On time performance was weak during December but has improved significantly. TransAt has cancelled some flights but only a very small percentage. The flights that were cancelled had poor passenger loads through AT booking system. AT is a very smart company and cancel or merge flights with poor demand. Sometimes they have CanJet operate two destinations on the same flight number which ensures a full aircraft and keeps costs under control. This ensures that vacation packages remain affordable and in demand. Book your AirTransat holiday with confidence.

[hogster330]

Here come the 737-800s,finally

[AirBanana]

Here come the 737-800s,finally

If you work at AT, haven't you signed a letter about confidentiality?

[verybadman]

ohhh come on. What have you heard? I wouldn't be suprised to se AT get 73's of their own.

[hogster330]

Here come the 737-800s,finally

If you work at AT, haven't you signed a letter about confidentiality?

I do work at AT and I did not sign a confidentiality agreement

[AirBanana]

I do work at AT and I did not sign a confidentiality agreement

I guess you must have been hired before me then.
Anyway, I'm kidding. You do what you want.

If we now have the will from all parties, chances are good I suppose.
Fingers crossed.

[Trainer]

That doesn't make sense.

Westjet was; and now CanJet, is doing a good job with their 14 birds. Initial start up was challenging, security in the states and weather but they have caught their stride and things are running smoothly.

So you think AT will go out and encumber the cost to acquire what, 14 Birds? ......and incur the cost of training for, oh I dont know, 150+ pilots....and then what? Lay them all off in the spring after spending all that dough? At the AT contract?

Why would they do that?

[hogster330]

10 Birds and many unhappy and disappointed passengers.It is called controlling your product that has taken so many years to build up.Anyway, I am sure Canjet will still provide some lift, just not 14 Birds worth.Ultimately, it is the big guys decision and apparently he is not happy with everything.Its about time we get back some of our work, afterall we played a large hand in the success of Transat

[Trainer]

........and, you may indeed have better info than I. However, I tend to think CJ will be evaluated on its overall seasonal performance not just a challenging start up of 9 additional airplanes, resulting in tripling the fleet, but security and weather factors that impacted all airlines in varying degrees, including AT.

Presently though, what I know is, CJ has those 14 birds now running smoothly, providing good customer service and product integrity is comparable to mothership and customer satisfaction is backed up by IMP.

Whatever we do for AT going forward, and to what degree, will depend on economics and overall seasonal performance. This is our third season, so something must be making sense to them.

T

[slapshot22]

Edited

[.......]

That doesn't make sense.



So you think AT will go out and encumber the cost to acquire what, 14 Birds? ......and incur the cost of training for, oh I dont know, 150+ pilots....and then what? Lay them all off in the spring after spending all that dough? At the AT contract?

Why would they do that?

We could easily do with the 5 or 6 planes that operate year round... And, believe me, there is job for 5 or 6 narrow body, all year long...

And what's with "acquire", do you mean buy? Hope not.

[Trainer]

Just a term, I meant nothing by it......lease, whatever, getting airplanes, hiring, training..etc, etc is expensive it probably would be less cost effective for you guys to do it, else you would be doing it now I would have thought.

In any event, you would know more than I about AT's plans, and if that's what's happening then I guess thats that.

Just keep in mind though that CJ was a way for AT to generate revenue, remain competitive and keep costs low which ultimately helps AT to be more profitable and therefore provide, I would think, more job security for you guys.

Anyway, see what happens. Understand you guys wanting to keep it all in house though...understandable enough.

Hope theres room for everyone at the end of the day.

Take care
T

[verybadman]

From the Air Transat CP, the first order of business is a common wide body fleet (330's). After that, Bob's your uncle. Nothing going on about a 737 addition (yet).

[hogster330]

There is stuff going on. 16 yul mechanics going on 737 course and in house courses start in june 2010. It is going to happen but lots of things have to be in place before the birds are on the ramp

[Niodatchi]

Yeah, like we sign our contract!! That B737 thing is food for negotiations that's what it's all about! I still think that we can do some of the narrow-body work but of course not all of it! Maybe it will be 5or 6 A-319/ A320, that would be the best narrow-body fleet for us! Nio

[zombi]

Transat has mechanics deployed down south during snowbird season but CanJet doesn't.

My understanding was that those mechanics are getting typed on the 737 to be able to accomodate CJ when they go mechanical down south...

[CanadaEH]

Didnt need mechanics trained on the 737 when WestJet was flying the contract.

[TFTMB heavy]

Didnt need mechanics trained on the 737 when WestJet was flying the contract.

Westjet had enough mechanics to support their fleet. Canjet has a small maintenance department.

If things stay the same in the industry you will see 737's with the star on the tail.

[zombi]

If things stay the same in the industry you will see 737's with the star on the tail.

[/quote]

I really have a hard time picturing Transat with narrow bodies as it's a seasonal type of operation, why would they want to put up with the headache of having to get contract pilots and the whole deal of leasing airplane for the winter from Europe. Much more simple and cheaper for them to have somebody else such as CJ deal with it.

[TFTMB heavy]

Air Transat will operate narrow bodies only if it can bring the cost structure down to match contractors and it's not too far off for now. They will operate a number of narrow bodies they can keep busy year round and contract the rest.

Controlling the product that is delivered to the customer is important. Loosing a lot of repeat business this winter with massive delays and service from temporary staff that know they will be out of work soon. The staff at Air Transat can't be beat for OTP and service. It's well oiled machine with few hickups.

[.......]

I truly enjoy reading your posts guys... keep'em coming

[hogster330]

Canjet has 4 737's contracted to Transat until 2013,the other 10 "Flex" machines can be replaced by Transat at their discretion.We will operate 5 permanent and 5 flex machines that will summer in Europe eventually.Sounds like 2013 could be Canjet's last year doing our work if things go out as planned. I dont think 16 yul mechanics being trained and another group this summer, are being trained just to cover canjet.It only takes one endorsed/shift guy to sign off a bird

[Niodatchi]

I hate to do that, to spoil the moment for everybody as usual. But This information comes from the official
ALPA magasine itslelf, this month edition... It talks about all the airlines represented by ALPA, and the section abou Transat, goes as follows: "The pilots are now faced with a situationthat could potentially jeapardize pilot seniority positions,wich is why th MEC has filed a grievance against this outsourcing....." And then the president adds:" And to add insult to injury, some of this outsourced flying is being flown by foreign pilots, wich has been made possible through Labour Canada's Foreign Worker Program."...Basically, what the article says is that we can do some of our own work with our own planes. Of course , outsourcing is necessary considering the size of Transat Travel, but we definitely need to bring some of the work back home to keep a control on the quality of the service we offer! And up to know, I don't think that our customers are satisfied with the current B737n operators... Or so I've heard! Just a thought... Cheers! Nio

[hogster330]

My post has nothing to do with the ALPA article and as a matter of fact I have not even read it yet. It is from information being provided by the company and sources within the company.The changes coming have a lot more to do Transat Corporate business strategy and positioning themselves and their products in a structure that will be able to compete effectively with their Main competitors now and in the future than ALPA concerns about foreign pilots.Do you really think JME will spend millions of dollars because Canjet is using some foreign pilots?? There is alot more to it than that!

[Trainer]

If AT decides to get their own NG's flown by you guys, well then thats that. All the best to you guys.

What is of concern though is this inuendo that somehow CJ is not meeting the AT product standard. Other than a couple of hickups getting 9 birds into the air in late December, CJ provides a very good product to your customers. That customer satisfaction is backed up by IMP and customers are always assured of product integrity. I work there, operate the airplanes and I see what your folks get. Same as what you get from mainline. I am sure you experience some of the same difficulties we do from time to time, its the nature of the business.

Just be mindful that we are first and foremost, grateful for the relationship we have with AT. We take that relationship very seriously and give 150% of ourselves to provide the level of product integrity from CJ you have come to expect over the last several years. This year was the most ambitious we have attempted, we grew in one month, 5 AC to 14!! No small endeavour. We admittedly tripped a couple of times logistically but then gained our momentum and stride. Its a well oiled machine at present.

Come on guys, we have been doing this for 10 years and before that, and at least for the senior people, it was 20 years with Air Atlantic. We know how to take care of pax and we know what good product is.

Let's face it, this is really about outsourcing, you don't like that. ..........and I get that. Its understandable.

Anyway, if it all goes back to you guys, fair enough, was your work to begin with, and thanks for the opportunity, but don't slag us through the mud because of a tough month. That's not fair. We take what we do very seriously and we consider ourselves professionals..

If your angry about outsourcing and jobs, upgrades and growth within your own shop, well OK then, then call it for what it is. We all would understand that part.



T