Originally Posted by
zerozero
It's true that AAWH filed for and subsequently emerged from bankruptcy but that doesn't mean they were almost out of business.
The bankruptcy was a legal maneuver after the SEC wanted to do an investigation.
SEC: We want to see your records.
AAWH: Um, we seem to have "lost" them.
SEC: We're still going to investigate.
AAWH: Actually, did I say we lost them? I meant we're bankrupt. You wouldn't investigate a poor little bankrupt airline would you?
So: Atlas may have almost been smacked around by the SEC but was never in any danger of going out of business due to the -400 acquisitions.
And now: The customers are screaming for -400s. The backbone of the fleet.
Talking to the CEO of the company i work for who use to work at Atlas paints a very different picture. He says current market value of the -400's is around 60-80 million vs. one could buy a classic for 8-20 million. Yes, if cargo weight is the same the -400 is going to fly farther and I'm sure the -8 will do even better, but he says it is like spending 15,000 dollars extra on a new hybrid Car to save only $400 a year in gas. He also says even crewing and MX issues don't justify the cost.
Thanks for the input.