Airbus A350 delay could affect US Airways

[barbeetantrums]

Why no choice in the poll for the A340?

 

[FlyDCJets]

US Airways’ business plan does not require immediate access to new widebody aircraft. The company currently has an order for 10 A330s with an option for 10 more, which are scheduled for firm delivery in a couple of year’s and can be used to replace aging B-767/B757 ETOPS aircraft.

Meanwhile, the company is currently modifying six B-757 aircraft that will become ETOPS certified and have winglets, which will provide cost effective lift to Europe with a CASM about 20% less than the B767. These aircraft will be put into transatlantic service and dependent upon PHL gate negotiations they will be used to fly to Brussels and some other Western European markets. This will free up one B-767 to fly to Zurich and one A-330 to fly to Athens next spring. US Airways has filed its application with the DOT to begin serving these markets from PHL next spring, provided it can get dedicated “A†East Concourse gates. Moreover, US Airways would like to incrementally add three new European destinations from PHL in both the spring of 2008 and 2009.

In regard to new aircraft, the A-340 and B-777-200LR are both options for new widebody aircraft. In fact, earlier this week Delta Air Lines placed an order for B-777-200LR’s and they will take delivery in 2008. The B-777-200LR will be the world’s longest range commercial aircraft and it has the ability to connect virtually any two cities around the globe, nonstop. Furthermore, US Airways Inspectors have reportedly been out to Victorville to inspect some used B767’s.

I believe every US Airways employee would like more widebody’s, but US Airways has options if Airbus is unable to deliver the A-350 XWB within a reasonable amount of time. Furthermore, let’s not forget that Airbus gave US Airways a $250 million loan that was required to exit bankruptcy, the aircraft manufacturer forgave $89 million in loan payments, and it has been very forgiving to the carrier when US Airways was in default.

Meanwhile, do not be surprised if US Airways announces an order for B-737-800’s and more EMB-190’s in the not-so-distant future.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

USA320Pilot,
Have heard similar info, but it is believed to be the
B737-900ER that is being considered as a replacememnt for the B757 ETOPS and nonETOPS Aircraft. The HP fleet 901 thru 906 are all former RP, and they will not have winglets installed due to the wing design, and it being cost prohibitive. It is possible that HP 908, 909, and 910 may get winglets, but it is unknown at this time.
Regards
DC

 

[FlyDCJets]

Gee,

I have family still working for US, guess you did not know that?

And I am still in contact with my friends out there.

And lets compare your Ms Cleo posts to my facts and you will lose everytime.

US has A320 family on order, don't see any 737s coming now do you?

The B737-800 and 900ER are being evaluated as replacement for the B737-300/-400 and B757 ETOPS/NonETOPS fleets. A study was done on the A321 fleet to retrofit to ETOPS, but the aircraft is too heavy and does not have the range.
Regards
DC

 

[PHL]

If US Airways is going to etops 11 a/c from the east for Europe, its going to be an undertaking as our 757's don't have ovens to cook meals.

Coments?

What's more difficult to do - installing winglets and ETOPS certifying a 757-200 or installing ovens? When those front cabins are upgraded to Envoy seating, perhaps the galleys will be reconfigured to allow for ovens?

 

[sharktooth]

700UW;

700UW said: "US has A320 family A/C on order, I doubt you will see any 737s ordered."

USA320Pilot comments: As an ex-US Airways employee how would you know? According to reports from US Airways' Flight Training Department, who is involved in the new aircraft evaluation processs, US Airways is in talks with Boeing to add B737-800s to the fleet. US Airways is also in discussion with Airbus, but the B737-800 seems to be the front runner at this time. It will be interesting to see how this develops.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

Ulp!

No, wait. A pilot who bleated "done deal" for months on the USAir/UAL merger, well after it was obvious otherwise, is questioning the credentials of another poster?

C.M. please put your head back up where it normally resides, you are, yet again, embarrassing the pilot group, as a whole.

Like as if you would have any idea what a "front runner" would be.........

 

[NAPAUS]

If US was serious about being an International Carrier, they would dump the A350 and go with Boeing all ready, they are wasting time and money waiting on Airbus.

Why does it seem that whoever runs this CRAZY airline never has a vision for the future. The closest person they came to having one was Steven Wolf. Truly if they were serious ( Parker and Kirby ) they would dump the 350....take delivery of of some 330's that are long range, and then order the 777-300LR's. As usual, unfortunately knowbody has a plan or a clue. Very sad an airline with so much promise just can't EVER get it together. BY 2015 they will so far behind CAL and DAL they will never have a fighting chance.

 

[jcw]

is it possible to have the A330-200's could be delivered early?

sorry - is it possible the A330-200's could be coming early?

 

[N924PS]

Why does it seem that whoever runs this CRAZY airline never has a vision for the future. The closest person they came to having one was Steven Wolf. Truly if they were serious ( Parker and Kirby ) they would dump the 350....take delivery of of some 330's that are long range, and then order the 777-300LR's. As usual, unfortunately knowbody has a plan or a clue. Very sad an airline with so much promise just can't EVER get it together. BY 2015 they will so far behind CAL and DAL they will never have a fighting chance.

They may have a plan. Remember consolidation is still a real possibility. USAirways could be a major international player with one bold transaction.

Having said that, I'm not sure "The Boys" really know what they have at hand currently. Only time will tell.

But of all the iterations of USAirways I did like "The Global Carrier of Choice" version the best. Still waiting for 400 narrow body and 30 wide body Airbus's in US livery to arrive....

 

[FCYTravis]

replace aging B-767/B757 ETOPS aircraft

They are not going to replace the B762ER fleet in "a couple years." If that was the plan, they wouldn't be spending $32 million on refurbishing and upgrading those 10 aircraft, including installing new Envoy Class cabins with lie-flat seats. The A332s will be expansion.

 

[john john]

US Airways’ business plan does not require immediate access to new widebody aircraft. The company currently has an order for 10 A330s with an option for 10 more, which are scheduled for firm delivery in a couple of year’s and can be used to replace aging B-767/B757 ETOPS aircraft.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

What are the deliver dates? Is it two years from now? (30 Oct 2006) How long will it take Airbus to make the A/C has US and Airbus committed to these A/C orders with a deliver date?

 

[Flying Titan]

IIRC, the 330s that are on order are due to arrive in 2008 and 2009.

 

[john john]

IIRC, the 330s that are on order are due to arrive in 2008 and 2009.

DATE OF DELIVER?

 

[Flying Titan]

I looked through the public materials from US and Airbus on the order and found nothing that mentions specific delivery dates yet.

 

[BoeingBoy]

As far as what's public, the A330-200's are scheduled for the 2009-2010 timeframe. Together with the A320 series previously ordered, the delivery period was stipulated in the "Airbus MOU" that was part of the POR when we exited BK.

Airbus MOU Term Sheet

As we all know, the A320 portion was modified in August of this year. Those modifications converted some orders to the A321, added 7 more A321 orders, and moved the delivery period up to the 2008-2009 timeframe - but not for the A330's.

Jim

 

[Flying Titan]

As far as what's public, the A330-200's are scheduled for the 2009-2010 timeframe. Together with the A320 series previously ordered, the delivery period was stipulated in the "Airbus MOU" that was part of the POR when we exited BK.

Airbus MOU Term Sheet

As we all know, the A320 portion was modified in August of this year. Those modifications converted some orders to the A321, added 7 more A321 orders, and moved the delivery period up to the 2008-2009 timeframe - but not for the A330's.

Jim

Thanks Jim. That spells it out pretty well. With the arrival of the new A330s coming a year later than I thought, it seems to add some new urgency for the folks at the sandcastle to pick up at least 2-3 used widebodies in the interim.