AA hires outside consultants!

[Hopeful]

Please be advised that AA has hired an outside consulting firm to "evaluate" the Airbus reliability. These consultants are currently in MIA, JFK and SJU.

The word is that Airbus would like to have AA has big customer again for the larger aircraft and they may "deal" with AA to replace the A300.

 

[AAStew]

Please be advised that AA has hired an outside consulting firm to "evaluate" the Airbus reliability. These consultants are currently in MIA, JFK and SJU.

The word is that Airbus would like to have AA has big customer again for the larger aircraft and they may "deal" with AA to replace the A300.

Does Air France buy Boeings? You would think American would finally buy "American". NAh....

 

[777 fixer]

Please be advised that AA has hired an outside consulting firm to "evaluate" the Airbus reliability. These consultants are currently in MIA, JFK and SJU.

The word is that Airbus would like to have AA has big customer again for the larger aircraft and they may "deal" with AA to replace the A300.

I wonder what Airbus really has to offer. The A380 does'nt really fit into AA's route network. The A340-200/300 is a dog. The A340-500/600 is about 20000lbs heavier than the 777. It also burns a lot more fuel, costs more to maintain and is less reliable. One of the head honchos at Emirates said they had far less issues with introduction of the 777-300ER into their fleet than they did with the A340-500. In addition Air France has said that their 777 burn around 15-20% less fuel than their A340's. Maybe the A350 however the 787 has that beat as well.

What's the name of this consulting firm? If it really has to do with Airbus I suspect that they are footing the bill.
I would almost want to say that maybe this consulting firm is looking into reliabity issues with the A300. However AA is perfectly capable of doing this on their own.

With the A300 a hot comodity on the pax-freighter conversion market I'm quite sure Boeing could offer AA a deal to take the A300's of their hands. They have done it before.

 

[meechy36]

Does Air France buy Boeings? You would think American would finally buy "American". NAh....

Actually, Air France is a huge Boeing customer. They have a big fleet of 744's, 772's and 773's. That said I hope we do not replace the A300's with Airbuses but the 787.

mikeBOS

 

[FWAAA]

WARNING: UNFOUNDED, RAMPANT SPECULATION AHEAD

This means only one thing: AA has hired these consultants to advise it about the NW A330s - in connection with the upcoming announcement that AA is, in fact, buying/merging with/combining with NW (or some portion of NW). What else could it possibly mean?


Seriously, though, the consultants are probably evaluating whether the current A300s should be dumped sooner than planned.

 

[777 fixer]

Actually, Air France is a huge Boeing customer. They have a big fleet of 744's, 772's and 773's. That said I hope we do not replace the A300's with Airbuses but the 787.

mikeBOS

Interesting to note that Air France choose the 777-300ER over the A30-500/600.

 

[Hopeful]

All good points! Politics always plays a role. Does everyone remember JFK-LHR using the A300? What a disaster considering the critical fuel factor for that aircraft.

But does anyone else remember roughly 7 or 8 years ago, American announcing to go exclusively Boeing over the next 25 years? Thats when they were rolling in the dough.
The only thing I can see is that Airbus is well aware AA will eventually need to replace the A300 and since finances are not what they were once were, Airbus might be willing to deal with AA and help replace that fleet.

I think the 787 fits the bill, but the A350 is being designed to compete head on with the 787.
Also, If Airbus were to help replace the A300 with the A350, and if they were to do it quickly, A300 heavy checks would be eliminated.


Stay tuned

 

[FWAAA]

Last I heard, the A350 is gonna be a couple years behind the 787, so there's no way any A350s would show up for at least five years. Won't the A300s need a couple of heavy C checks in the next five years?

The most likely replacement for the A300s? Three dozen used (or new, if AA really wants to spend) 777s, even the non-IGW versions (like the first batch bought by UA).

If cargo revenue in the Caribbean and Central America is really as impressive as AA says it is, those airplanes will be perfect for the mission. Upstairs, lots and lots of room to pack in the coach seats.

 

[TIME FOR CHANGE]

Here i MIA we have a terminal response crew. Anything that is on delay 3 guys from this crew try to save the flight from cancellation.
We were told a few days ago that these guys are to work nothing but the A300. If any other fleet type goes ots the terminal will work it. <_<

Wonder why this is taking place all of a sudden 😉

 

[eolesen]

Hey, all you speculating on AA buying more Airbii....

Don't forget that Airbus left no stone unturned in trying to pin the cause of AA587's tail separation entirely on AA. I've never seen Boeing attack a customer the way Airbus's legal team went after AA, and I will assume that it has not been forgotten by AA's planning folks.

Regardless, AA wants to reduce fleet types, and unless their widebodies start to have common cockpit quals with the B777, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for an Airbus order anytime soon.

 

[Kev3188]

WARNING: UNFOUNDED, RAMPANT SPECULATION AHEAD

This means only one thing: AA has hired these consultants to advise it about the NW A330s - in connection with the upcoming announcement that AA is, in fact, buying/merging with/combining with NW (or some portion of NW). What else could it possibly mean?
Seriously, though, the consultants are probably evaluating whether the current A300s should be dumped sooner than planned.

FWAAA's rumor mongering aside, how would the A330 fit into AA's fleet? How do it's numbers (capacity and range-wise) stack up against the A300?

 

[eolesen]

FWAAA's rumor mongering aside, how would the A330 fit into AA's fleet? How do it's numbers (capacity and range-wise) stack up against the A300?

They wouldn't fit at all. We're GE and RR power, and I believe you've got Pratts but I could be mistaken. If there were to be a merger, as much as AA as avoided the 747, I'd expect to see that fleet survive and the A330 leases rejected rather quickly.

Costwise, the A300's are currently being flown on quasi-domestic segments typically under 2000 miles, whereas the A330 was made to fly tranoceanic. I suspect the operating costs on shorter stage lengths would be horrible.

 

[B.O.B.]

This is a motto I live by:

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!

 

[Kev3188]

They wouldn't fit at all. We're GE and RR power, and I believe you've got Pratts but I could be mistaken. If there were to be a merger, as much as AA as avoided the 747, I'd expect to see that fleet survive and the A330 leases rejected rather quickly.

Costwise, the A300's are currently being flown on quasi-domestic segments typically under 2000 miles, whereas the A330 was made to fly tranoceanic. I suspect the operating costs on shorter stage lengths would be horrible.

Thanks for the response.

NW's are Pratt Whitney powered AFAIK.

In my previous post, I meant the A330 in general, and not neccessarily NW's. I suspect you may be right in regards to the stage length costs when compared to the A300.

 

[FWAAA]

If there were to be a merger, as much as AA as avoided the 747, I'd expect to see that fleet survive and the A330 leases rejected rather quickly.

Before someone posts the pedantic "they're owned, not leased" comment, I'll just note that "What FM said, except that the A330s would be abandoned and given back to the secured creditors." Same difference.