This seems pretty straight forward to me and is pretty much what all the Atlas crewmembers posting on here have been saying for a couple of years.
Atlas pilots do not wish any ill on the Polar pilots at all despite the sacrifices they have endured for, and the abuse they have suffered at the hands of, Polar crewmembers. It is just time to finish the merger. Get it done. The whole company is merged except for the pilots - and that is due to the Polar MEC, and only the Polar MEC.
From the CEO of Atlas – in his 2/14/2008 letter to Atlas and Polar Crewmembers;
“…Despite what some continue to assert, the merger has not been called off – the Company remains committed to completing it as soon as possible.
Since my appointment as CEO I have continuously expressed what I sincerely believe to be true – merging the Atlas and Polar crew forces is in everyone’s best interests. For both our Atlas and Polar Crewmembers it makes no sense to continue to battle – whether through arbitrations or even separate negotiations – for the right to the same aircraft and flying. For our Polar Crewmembers in particular it makes no sense to be restricted to a fleet of only six and one-half aircraft, without the real potential for growth that exists at Atlas as we add both -400 aircraft and the new -8 aircraft to meet the continued demand for ACMI flying, including the further ACMI opportunities with DHL Express. And for the Company it makes no sense not to have the efficiencies attendant to a merged crew force. More simply put, from any reasonable perspective this is one occasion where labor and management’s interests are the same.”
From the VP of Operations August 2007:
“…Our responses were unequivocal – there were no plans to sell or otherwise spin-off Polar. However, to maximize the value in Polar - where as a standalone airline it had never been profitable – an investment partner in Polar was quite likely.” ….