Air Canada outsourcing US Regional

[cpt.sam]

Hey gents,

What do you guys think of the College of Professional Pilots of Canada which would in the end allow us to unite as a one and unique group ?

http://www.collegeofpilots.ca

I asked this question too, in a different topic tho I think.
Is this "college" something that will help us?
Or a pipe dream of some pilot turned union leader?
The website seems.....lacking???

[airspeed250]

Public corporations are under pressure to cut labour costs so I can't see conditions improving... as long as someone else will work for less. Pilots can have the best relationship with management and I don't think it will matter. My team had a great relationship with management and nearly half my entire office floor took a severance package due to downsizing. This was at a highly profitable energy company (but still needs to show earnings growth year after year). To say the least, the company was not suffering. It's the quest of perpetual earnings growth to drive the share price higher. And yes, middle/upper management spare themselves but that's where the shareholder really needs some visibility. Shareholders are blind to the corporate structure inside a company. There was nearly a manager for every two or three workers on my floor, never mind layer upon layer of directors.

[Mig29]

Public corporations are under pressure to cut labour costs so I can't see conditions improving... as long as someone else will work for less. Pilots can have the best relationship with management and I don't think it will matter. My team had a great relationship with management and nearly half my entire office floor took a severance package due to downsizing. This was at a highly profitable energy company (but still needs to show earnings growth year after year). To say the least, the company was not suffering. It's the quest of perpetual earnings growth to drive the share price higher. And yes, middle/upper management spare themselves but that's where the shareholder really needs some visibility. Shareholders are blind to the corporate structure inside a company. There was nearly a manager for every two or three workers on my floor, never mind layer upon layer of directors.

It's sad yet so true. Capitalism at it's worst!

[Flaps 1]

Why is this government so hellbent on making Canada a third-world country?

[ratherbee]

The new ATP requirements in the US are putting pressure on the regionals' ability to hire cheap inexperienced pilots. Now that Age 65 has been in the States for 5 years they are seeing big retirements again and hundreds of furloughed pilots are returning to the majors. ALPA is a strong and capable union so they should be able to negotiate better contracts for these pilots.

For AC, the reason they are focusing on diversifying their regionals is to protect and grow the feeder structure for the mainline. This will provide more feed and allow more wide-bodies. If they do it right, it will also provide more profit which means more jobs, more pay, more secure pension, etc (yes, yes more executive bonuses too).

I realize it's frightening for some but this is the airline industry and it's not for the faint of heart.

[Norwegianwood]

But there is at least some sanity out there, EU said no to silly work rules.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24327366

[MeAndMrPenguin]

Regional 1 and Georgian have combined. Binder has access to many RJ's and Dash 8's. Georgian is now the provider of cadets. I can see one Canadian company bidding...

[midwingcrisis]

The cost structure between Canadian and US carriers is night and day. Crew wages and benefits would only account to 4% of total cost(s). There is a lot more to it than crew costs

[bcflyer]

But there is at least some sanity out there, EU said no to silly work rules.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24327366

Sadly it looks like they have been overruled and the silly work rules are being pushed through. Guess we need another hull loss with the associated loss of life to get the point across......

[countryhick]

Jazz Aviation LP ranks first for on-time performance among Canadian carriers


Ten consecutive months in the leading position

HALIFAX, Oct. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz") today announced it ranked first among Canadian carriers for arrival on-time performance for the month of September 2013, as reported by FlightStats Inc. This marks Jazz's 10th consecutive month in the leading position among Canadian carriers, and also places it among North America's top five on-time performing airlines for the past five months, according to the leading global flight and airport information service.

"Our operational expertise has allowed us to build a company of superior scope and scale, and has earned us a reputation for safe, reliable and efficient service," said Jolene Mahody, Chief Operating Officer, Jazz. "Jazz's extensive footprint includes the operation of more daily flights than any other Canadian carrier and flights to some of the most challenging destinations. My thanks go to our employees who are committed to providing a safe, on-time and customer-friendly service. These comparative statistics are a testament to the expertise and service excellence delivered by our team at Jazz."

As the largest regional carrier in Canada, Jazz has a proven track record of industry leadership and exceptional customer service, and has leveraged that strength to deliver value to all its stakeholders. Jazz has a workforce of approximately 5,000 professionals highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

[freedomfighter]

Do you really think in the world of Air Canada the ultimate decision maker would entertain something like this?

Do you really believe the scope rules fleet deployment restrictions on them(are there even that many now) mean that much more to them in where it would be proper to be onside with labor?

It looks like they're managing the situation pretty good from the ringside seats.

Divide and conquer.

AC is managing things pretty good within the constraints that still exist and as a result the best case scenario is an imperfect outcome.

Best example is that AC asks arbitrator for 319's at Rouge. Arbitrator gives it to them. Now AC realizes that is not cost effective and asks ACPA for permission to operate 320's at Rouge instead. This puts ACPA back in the driver's seat and in the corporation's case demonstrates the axiom "be careful what you wish for".

AC will continue pursuing the optimal solution but will never achieve it due to the commercial, industrial, and operational restrictions that populate the convoluted operation that AC is creating (multiple partners, paint jobs, operating certificates, etc). And this is all being done for one simple purpose - to get around organized labour.

Whomever can partner with labour will have a trump card that no other carrier has. WJ is part way there and relies on the fact that AC is so constrained. Imagine a world where AC is no longer constrained? That is WJ worst nightmare.

Westjet and the WJPA are entering into what will likely be their most difficult round of negotiations. Let's wait and see where their relationship will be next year.

[teacher]

Jazz Aviation LP ranks first for on-time performance among Canadian carriers


Ten consecutive months in the leading position

HALIFAX, Oct. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Jazz Aviation LP ("Jazz") today announced it ranked first among Canadian carriers for arrival on-time performance for the month of September 2013, as reported by FlightStats Inc. This marks Jazz's 10th consecutive month in the leading position among Canadian carriers, and also places it among North America's top five on-time performing airlines for the past five months, according to the leading global flight and airport information service.

"Our operational expertise has allowed us to build a company of superior scope and scale, and has earned us a reputation for safe, reliable and efficient service," said Jolene Mahody, Chief Operating Officer, Jazz. "Jazz's extensive footprint includes the operation of more daily flights than any other Canadian carrier and flights to some of the most challenging destinations. My thanks go to our employees who are committed to providing a safe, on-time and customer-friendly service. These comparative statistics are a testament to the expertise and service excellence delivered by our team at Jazz."

As the largest regional carrier in Canada, Jazz has a proven track record of industry leadership and exceptional customer service, and has leveraged that strength to deliver value to all its stakeholders. Jazz has a workforce of approximately 5,000 professionals highly experienced in the challenging and complex nature of regional operations.

Unfortunately many folks just see the above as being too costly to have. Better to be cheaper and not offer as good a service I guess