International routes aren't worth what they used to be. With code-sharing, 90 some odd US-XXX open skies treaties, any US airline is "flying" where they want to be already. No need to buy the right to fly. What UAL has, that AC has, and many other airlines in supposed 'dire straits' is assets that have value. AC completed a transaction where they sold several planes and leased them back, or used them as collateral to secure access to operating cash. UAL (and AA somewhat) is doing some right things. They are putting their heads down and ploughing ahead with business as (for the most part) usual. Someone cares to tell a story of CBS and ABC being of a similar size and stature numerous years ago. ABC started making bold, firm and smart decisions and were aquired by Disney a few years later. CBS tried to "shrink" into greatness and were purchased by Westinghouse for about 1/5th the value of ABC at about the same point in time. Matthew > -----Original Message----- > From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU] On > Behalf Of Dan Wilhoft > Sent: February 11, 2002 5:19 PM > To: AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU > Subject: Re: UAL mechanics may reject contract, back strike > > > I agree Walter I am Supprised that UAL has not started > to auction off thier international routes to the > highest bidder like EA,PA and TWA did...Dan...PHL > --- W Wilson <wlw-jr@att.net> wrote: > > The next step to the beginning of the end of UAL? > > > > Walter > > DCA > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "W Wilson" <wlw-jr@att.net> > > To: <AIRLINE@LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU> > > > > > > > By John Crawley > > > > > > WASHINGTON, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Mechanics at United > > Airlines (UAL) could > > vote > > > on Tuesday to reject a contract offer based on > > recommendations of a > > > presidential emergency board and, if so, would > > later vote to strike, their > > > union's president said. > > > > > > "My sentiment tells me they will reject it," Tom > > Buffenbarger told > > reporters > > > on Monday, referring to the 15,000 mechanics and > > related workers who will > > > vote on the plan that would give them pay raises > > of up to 37 percent. > > > > > > The mechanics have not had a raise since 1994. > > > > > > Buffenbarger said the vote could be extremely > > close. But he was clear > > about > > > what would happen if the company's proposal > > failed. > > > > > > "If they reject the contract, they will vote to > > strike," Buffenbarger > > said. > > > The earliest a strike could occur would be on Feb. > > 20. > > > > > > > > > The airline would not predict how the mechanics > > would vote. > > > > > > "We're not going to jump ahead of ourselves. We're > > going to see what > > happens > > > tomorrow," United spokeswoman Susana Leyva said. > > > > > > Buffenbarger also said there would "be hell to > > pay" if Congress intervened > > > in the labor organization's dispute with United by > > extending the deadline > > > for a settlement or imposing contract terms. > > > > > > "That is not a threat. That's a promise," > > Buffenbarger told a news > > > conference. > > > > > > He was not specific about what action the > > International Association of > > > Machinists would take, but suggested it would work > > to rule if terms were > > > imposed. > > > > > > Congress has never acted on an airline contract > > dispute, and Buffenbarger > > > said he thought lawmakers would not interfere this > > time if asked to do so > > by > > > the White House. > > > > > > A presidential emergency board recommended last > > month that the No. 2 > > > carrier, a unit of UAL Corp. (UAL), boost pay for > > the mechanics to bring > > > into line with other industry leaders. That would > > be roughly $35.14 per > > hour > > > for the most-senior mechanics, up from $25.60. > > > > > > But the true value of the increase would be > > delayed if the financially > > > struggling airline sought wage concessions across > > the board to reduce > > costs. > > > > > > United posted a staggering net loss of $2.1 > > billion in the fourth quarter > > of > > > 2001 as it struggled with declining traffic due to > > the Sept. 11 attacks > > and > > > the recession. > > > > > > Other airlines also have posted huge losses, but > > there have been signs of > > > recovery recently with the gradual return of > > business and savings from > > deep > > > cost cutting in recent months. > > > > > > The union is unhappy with an emergency board > > recommendation to defer > > > retroactive pay for mechanics and with proposals > > on retirement benefits. > > The > > > machinists also say the plan contains no job > > security provisions and they > > > reject the proposal's blueprint for wage > > concessions. > > > > > > Buffenbarger signaled the union was willing to do > > its part in any giveback > > > plan to save the airline from potential > > bankruptcy, but vigorously > > rejected > > > the government writing that formula into its > > contract recommendation. > > > > > > The airline's contract proposal could be approved > > with a simple majority > > of > > > "yes" votes nationwide. A strike would need > > two-thirds support, and > > > Buffenbarger said it would pass easily. > > > > > > President George W. Bush appointed the emergency > > board in December to > > > resolve the contract dispute at United. Before > > then, the union had voted > > > overwhelmingly to strike. But the White House > > intervention delayed any > > > walkout for 60 days. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Send FREE Valentine eCards with Yahoo! Greetings! > http://greetings.yahoo.com >