US Air's New Plan
Jolly Green Giant
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US Air's New Plan
Us Air are going to introduce 50-69 regional jets for use in US Air's mainline operations. The initial deployment will be operated by US Air mainline employees. They will replace larger jets flying between their main hubs. They're going to push these operations at Logan, LaGuardia and Reagan National in particular. What's interesting is that these aircraft will be inside the cap of 70 regional jets allowed by the contract with The US Air pilots.
They wil also use larger aircraft, (757) to serve key Florida destinations. They will also look to join an alliance, (will it be Star?)
They envisage an annual operating gain of $439 million as a result of these measures. I say good luck to all at US Air.
They wil also use larger aircraft, (757) to serve key Florida destinations. They will also look to join an alliance, (will it be Star?)
They envisage an annual operating gain of $439 million as a result of these measures. I say good luck to all at US Air.
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How in the world will this be cost-effective when paying the higher salaries of mainline pilots?..Don't get me wrong I think all regional pilots should be on par, or most certainly paid much more that they are now
Jolly Green Giant
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The way they're talking about in ib57, the regional jets will operate out of hub airports on routes that have customer demand more appropriate to RJ passenger sizes. They estimate that this step alone will save them $132 million. So much for higher pilot salaries drastically affecting the bottom line! Be careful US Air, you might set a trend that the airlines will curse you for!!
Other key points of the plan in more detail are,
Enhanced use of larger aircraft on routes between hub cities and key Florida destinations. This step will increase capacity to Florida destinations while reducing the number of actual flights and associated expenses as larger aircraft replace smaller ones. This redeployment of Florida aircraft is made possible by the entry into service of 23 Airbus A321 aircraft into the fleet during 2001. The A321s, with greater passenger appeal, will be deployed on transcontinental routes. The current transcontinental aircraft, Boeing 757s, with a higher seat count, will be
used for Florida service.
Continued expansion of regional jet flights by US Airways Express at Logan, LaGuardia and Washington Reagan. Regional jets can fly some routes out of these major cities more profitably than larger jets. These aircraft will be flown by US Airways Express carriers and will be inside the cap of 70 regional
jets allowed by the contract with US Airways pilots.
Introduction of new service to Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore., and San Antonio, Texas. This service will utilize the larger mainline aircraft made available by the increased use of regional jets at Boston, New York and Washington. Initially, Austin and San Antonio will be served via the
Charlotte hub and Portland via the Pittsburgh hub. In addition, US Airways'
presence on the West Coast will be further expanded upon completion of new
arrangements with Express carriers to feed US Airways' long-haul system, including Europe and the Caribbean.
Participation in a premier global alliance in the near future, providing enhanced profitability along with customer benefits such as access to broader frequent flyer awards and, most importantly, increased global travel opportunities through ties to a major international network.
Closure of the San Diego reservations center and the Albany, N.Y. overnight maintenance unit. The employees affected -- 560 in San Diego and 19 in Albany -- will be offered positions elsewhere in the system.
A targeted $75 million annual reduction in overhead infrastructure costs.
Begin discussions with non-pilot employee groups on a reduction in MetroJet expenses. While load factors on MetroJet consistently are higher than competing low-cost Airlines, underscoring the popularity of the service, these employee costs continue to be high relative to those of competing airlines. Absent an agreement to lower these costs, plans will be implemented to retire 18 of the 42 MetroJet 737-200 aircraft, which could result in employee furloughs.
Deferring firm Airbus single-aisle aircraft deliveries scheduled for 2003 through 2006 to the 2005 through 2009 period.
Elimination of another fleet type -- the MD-80 -- by the end of 2002. All
B-727s have been retired and the last of the DC-9s will be retired this
coming Saturday, August 18.
All the above information was obtained by
speednews.com
[ 18 August 2001: Message edited by: OneWorld22 ]
Other key points of the plan in more detail are,
Enhanced use of larger aircraft on routes between hub cities and key Florida destinations. This step will increase capacity to Florida destinations while reducing the number of actual flights and associated expenses as larger aircraft replace smaller ones. This redeployment of Florida aircraft is made possible by the entry into service of 23 Airbus A321 aircraft into the fleet during 2001. The A321s, with greater passenger appeal, will be deployed on transcontinental routes. The current transcontinental aircraft, Boeing 757s, with a higher seat count, will be
used for Florida service.
Continued expansion of regional jet flights by US Airways Express at Logan, LaGuardia and Washington Reagan. Regional jets can fly some routes out of these major cities more profitably than larger jets. These aircraft will be flown by US Airways Express carriers and will be inside the cap of 70 regional
jets allowed by the contract with US Airways pilots.
Introduction of new service to Austin, Texas; Portland, Ore., and San Antonio, Texas. This service will utilize the larger mainline aircraft made available by the increased use of regional jets at Boston, New York and Washington. Initially, Austin and San Antonio will be served via the
Charlotte hub and Portland via the Pittsburgh hub. In addition, US Airways'
presence on the West Coast will be further expanded upon completion of new
arrangements with Express carriers to feed US Airways' long-haul system, including Europe and the Caribbean.
Participation in a premier global alliance in the near future, providing enhanced profitability along with customer benefits such as access to broader frequent flyer awards and, most importantly, increased global travel opportunities through ties to a major international network.
Closure of the San Diego reservations center and the Albany, N.Y. overnight maintenance unit. The employees affected -- 560 in San Diego and 19 in Albany -- will be offered positions elsewhere in the system.
A targeted $75 million annual reduction in overhead infrastructure costs.
Begin discussions with non-pilot employee groups on a reduction in MetroJet expenses. While load factors on MetroJet consistently are higher than competing low-cost Airlines, underscoring the popularity of the service, these employee costs continue to be high relative to those of competing airlines. Absent an agreement to lower these costs, plans will be implemented to retire 18 of the 42 MetroJet 737-200 aircraft, which could result in employee furloughs.
Deferring firm Airbus single-aisle aircraft deliveries scheduled for 2003 through 2006 to the 2005 through 2009 period.
Elimination of another fleet type -- the MD-80 -- by the end of 2002. All
B-727s have been retired and the last of the DC-9s will be retired this
coming Saturday, August 18.
All the above information was obtained by
speednews.com
[ 18 August 2001: Message edited by: OneWorld22 ]
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They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
For another view see this article
http://misc.biztravel.com/content/Brancatelli.htm
Here is a quote:
<<Check it out yourself. A summary of Plan B in all its chaotically cheesy glory is posted at the US Airways Web site. You'll probably be as dumbstruck as the analysts and other airline observers, none of whom could figure out exactly what the US Airways executives were talking about yesterday.
Just as Ed Wood had stray plot lines, extraneous bits of dialogue and god-awful sets strewn about Plan 9 from Outer Space, the US Airways Plan B is full of incoherent route swapping and aircraft substitutions and goofy collections of spit and baling wire masquerading as strategic initiatives. Plan B has got squadrons of flights coming and going to Florida, Airbus jets replacing older planes, international aircraft with an undefined mix of two- and three-cabin configurations, the flotsam called Metrojet emerging from and receding into the background at awkward moments, and vast fleets of regional jets inexplicably appearing all at once in the skies over the East Coast.>>
[ 18 August 2001: Message edited by: aviator ]
For another view see this article
http://misc.biztravel.com/content/Brancatelli.htm
Here is a quote:
<<Check it out yourself. A summary of Plan B in all its chaotically cheesy glory is posted at the US Airways Web site. You'll probably be as dumbstruck as the analysts and other airline observers, none of whom could figure out exactly what the US Airways executives were talking about yesterday.
Just as Ed Wood had stray plot lines, extraneous bits of dialogue and god-awful sets strewn about Plan 9 from Outer Space, the US Airways Plan B is full of incoherent route swapping and aircraft substitutions and goofy collections of spit and baling wire masquerading as strategic initiatives. Plan B has got squadrons of flights coming and going to Florida, Airbus jets replacing older planes, international aircraft with an undefined mix of two- and three-cabin configurations, the flotsam called Metrojet emerging from and receding into the background at awkward moments, and vast fleets of regional jets inexplicably appearing all at once in the skies over the East Coast.>>
[ 18 August 2001: Message edited by: aviator ]
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Well if usairways can make money with mainline crews flying regional jets, this could be a good thing for all regional pilots..and mainline pilots alike, and could see the end of these scope clauses...mmmmmmmmmmm
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GlueBall
Didn't think it was that much difference.
From their respective websites, the 757 interior cabin width is 11ft 7in, the 321 is 12ft 1in (max - implying it could be less depending on fixtures).
Anyway I really meant that yer average US Airways punter is unlikely to a) pick a flight based on equipment b) see the plane from the outside or c) tell the difference on the inside.
I have nothing against Airbus - no rabid Boeing Booster I - but 'passenger appeal' strikes me as just so much PR spin, not substantiated by the real world. Possible exception was the 747 which did capture public attention although god knows why with 3-4-3 benches. The A380 might do the same because it's visually different and maybe the gin-and-tonic cruiser, if we ever see it.
Didn't think it was that much difference.
From their respective websites, the 757 interior cabin width is 11ft 7in, the 321 is 12ft 1in (max - implying it could be less depending on fixtures).
Anyway I really meant that yer average US Airways punter is unlikely to a) pick a flight based on equipment b) see the plane from the outside or c) tell the difference on the inside.
I have nothing against Airbus - no rabid Boeing Booster I - but 'passenger appeal' strikes me as just so much PR spin, not substantiated by the real world. Possible exception was the 747 which did capture public attention although god knows why with 3-4-3 benches. The A380 might do the same because it's visually different and maybe the gin-and-tonic cruiser, if we ever see it.
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Interesting strategy by US Air.
I wonder how long it will be before Delta, AA and United decide they have to do something similar to take advantage of the regional growth and adopt the RJ Armada instead of fighting it with their scope clauses. Maybe they'll spin off or merge with the regionals?
Correct me if I am wrong but with Continental Express spun off the scope clause is no longer in effect? If that's the case then they can get as many RJ's as they desire.
[ 19 August 2001: Message edited by: CRJ200 ]
I wonder how long it will be before Delta, AA and United decide they have to do something similar to take advantage of the regional growth and adopt the RJ Armada instead of fighting it with their scope clauses. Maybe they'll spin off or merge with the regionals?
Correct me if I am wrong but with Continental Express spun off the scope clause is no longer in effect? If that's the case then they can get as many RJ's as they desire.
[ 19 August 2001: Message edited by: CRJ200 ]
