Bits & Pieces
• In a recent US Airways webcast on theHub.com Doug Parker indicated that all current crew bases will remain open. Parker felt that US Airways had too many bases, however upon further review 7 bases seems to be the optimal number for our network. There are no plans to further expand Latin and South American operations.
• Parker also indicated that ALPA (or any union) could have either the US Airways or America West pilot contract, but not cherry pick the best of both because it’s the company's intention to keep labor costs at pre-merger costs.
• Parker also said that there are no current M&A negotiations underway with either Delta or Northwest, however, if either of those airline’s decide consolidation needs to be part of their bankruptcy “exit plan†US Airways would be negligent to not discuss this with their “executive suiteâ€. Parker expects more domestic expansion connecting cities that only offer service to pre-merger East and West hubs (Midwest).
In my opinion, this will be done with EMB-190s.
• According to a poster discussing EMB-190 operations in the CLT “B†Concourse crew room, the first EMB-190 revenue flight will be December 14. Parker indicated that for the foreseeable future all EMB-190 operations will be on the East Coast.
• From US AIrways FAQ's on July 21, where does our order for the A350 stand now that Airbus is redesigning the plane and delaying its launch?
We’re in constant contact with Airbus and are evaluating their revised A350 plan to confirm the aircraft still fits our needs (including the economics and seating capacity). In addition to the revised specifications for the A350, we’re also looking at the impact of a delayed delivery as it relates to our long-range, wide-body fleet needs. We now anticipate the earliest potential delivery of the A350 in 2013 – about 18 to 24 months behind schedule. We will be working closely with Airbus over the next few months on these issues. Airbus has been a valued partner of US Airways for several years and, you’ll recall, played an important role by providing some debt financing for our merger.
• US Airways expects more transatlantic expansion into long-thin markets with B757 ETOPS aircraft. In a previous news media interview, Scott Kirby, US Airways’ executive vice president of marketing and sales indicated there will be 2 to 3 European cities added to the route network in both 2007 and 2008. In his webcast Parker indicated US Airways would like to add service from Phoenix to both London and Frankfurt, but the A-330 does not have the range and the company does not have the aircraft to do so (yet).
• Two AWA ALPA Negotiating Committee Member’s Resign
Dear JR Baker:
Recent events demand that we resign from our positions on the America West Negotiating Committee, effective July 21, 2006.
Our disagreement with the current direction of negotiations as well as our inability to influence our current leadership to be steadfast in our initial pledge to the pilot group of not moving backwards from our current Bargaining Agreement, has prevented us from performing our jobs effectively. Adding to the above is the fact that both of us have been effectively cut out of the process.
Our experience in working on behalf of the America West pilots has taught us much, and we are grateful for the opportunity. We are especially proud of the progress achieved to date, but can not longer see a good outcome from this point forward due to a fundamental shift in the Committee’s goal.
We appreciate having had the opportunity to serve this pilot group and look forward to once again sharing the flight deck with all of you. We wish all of you the best.
In solidarity,
James “Rocky†Calveri
Antonio Lozano
Regards,
USA320Pilot
• In a recent US Airways webcast on theHub.com Doug Parker indicated that all current crew bases will remain open. Parker felt that US Airways had too many bases, however upon further review 7 bases seems to be the optimal number for our network. There are no plans to further expand Latin and South American operations.
• Parker also indicated that ALPA (or any union) could have either the US Airways or America West pilot contract, but not cherry pick the best of both because it’s the company's intention to keep labor costs at pre-merger costs.
• Parker also said that there are no current M&A negotiations underway with either Delta or Northwest, however, if either of those airline’s decide consolidation needs to be part of their bankruptcy “exit plan†US Airways would be negligent to not discuss this with their “executive suiteâ€. Parker expects more domestic expansion connecting cities that only offer service to pre-merger East and West hubs (Midwest).
In my opinion, this will be done with EMB-190s.
• According to a poster discussing EMB-190 operations in the CLT “B†Concourse crew room, the first EMB-190 revenue flight will be December 14. Parker indicated that for the foreseeable future all EMB-190 operations will be on the East Coast.
• From US AIrways FAQ's on July 21, where does our order for the A350 stand now that Airbus is redesigning the plane and delaying its launch?
We’re in constant contact with Airbus and are evaluating their revised A350 plan to confirm the aircraft still fits our needs (including the economics and seating capacity). In addition to the revised specifications for the A350, we’re also looking at the impact of a delayed delivery as it relates to our long-range, wide-body fleet needs. We now anticipate the earliest potential delivery of the A350 in 2013 – about 18 to 24 months behind schedule. We will be working closely with Airbus over the next few months on these issues. Airbus has been a valued partner of US Airways for several years and, you’ll recall, played an important role by providing some debt financing for our merger.
• US Airways expects more transatlantic expansion into long-thin markets with B757 ETOPS aircraft. In a previous news media interview, Scott Kirby, US Airways’ executive vice president of marketing and sales indicated there will be 2 to 3 European cities added to the route network in both 2007 and 2008. In his webcast Parker indicated US Airways would like to add service from Phoenix to both London and Frankfurt, but the A-330 does not have the range and the company does not have the aircraft to do so (yet).
• Two AWA ALPA Negotiating Committee Member’s Resign
Dear JR Baker:
Recent events demand that we resign from our positions on the America West Negotiating Committee, effective July 21, 2006.
Our disagreement with the current direction of negotiations as well as our inability to influence our current leadership to be steadfast in our initial pledge to the pilot group of not moving backwards from our current Bargaining Agreement, has prevented us from performing our jobs effectively. Adding to the above is the fact that both of us have been effectively cut out of the process.
Our experience in working on behalf of the America West pilots has taught us much, and we are grateful for the opportunity. We are especially proud of the progress achieved to date, but can not longer see a good outcome from this point forward due to a fundamental shift in the Committee’s goal.
We appreciate having had the opportunity to serve this pilot group and look forward to once again sharing the flight deck with all of you. We wish all of you the best.
In solidarity,
James “Rocky†Calveri
Antonio Lozano
Regards,
USA320Pilot
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