China Award Thread-Merged Topics--

[PHX Flyer]

The announced seat configuration (42/227) is very similar to Air Canada's A340-500. The latter offers 42 "Executive First" and 225 coach seats. In any case, the large Envoy Class section suggests that US will acquire the -500 model, not the -300. Air Canada still seems to be the most plausible source.
It's great to see US operate a true "flagship" aircraft at last. (Two-holers are somewhat lacking in that regard.) I hope this addition to the fleet will also help Phoenix to a few more European routes.

 

[LGA777]

The announced seat configuration (42/227) is very similar to Air Canada's A340-500. The latter offers 42 "Executive First" and 225 coach seats. In any case, the large Envoy Class section suggests that US will acquire the -500 model, not the -300. Air Canada still seems to be the most plausible source.
It's great to see US operate a true "flagship" aircraft at last. (Two-holers are somewhat lacking in that regard.) I hope this addition to the fleet will also help Phoenix to a few more European routes.

The Air Canada A-340-500's have gone or are going to Tam Brazil so I doubt we could get those. I had heard both Emirates and Singapore could be looking to unload their A-340-500's in favor of 777's due to dissapointements in performance.

For anyone interested here are the differences in length between the different A-340 versions.

200 194 feet
300 209 feet
500 222 feet
600 247 feet

Regards

LGA777

 

[PHX Flyer]

Thanks, I didn't know that Air Canada had already passed the A345 on to someone else. What's the likelihood of US ordering factory-new aircraft?

 

[LGA777]

Thanks, I didn't know that Air Canada had already passed the A345 on to someone else. What's the likelihood of US ordering factory-new aircraft?

I believe the A330-200 order with deliveries starting in 2009 has a provision that some could be changed to A-340's. If factory fresh aircraft are the way US ends up going I would hope they break the less is more tradition and go with the Superior -500's, if for nothing else they would be easier to get rid of once the A-350's arrive.

LGA777

 

[BoeingBoy]

What is the trigger for "tentative" to become "permanent" in this case?

The way I read it, as long as no one can show cause why US shouldn't get the award it becomes final. The DOT is continuing the normal "let it lapse for 90 days and lose it" clause, plus changing the time before the authority can be sold from 1 year to 5 years with all these awards.

Jim

 

[LGA777]

When it was announced it would be Beijing instead of the original choice of Shanghi I was dissapointed in part because the latter has a fairly new very modern and beautiful Airport, where Beijing left something to be desired. But now it seems a very impressive new Terminal is being built for Beijing opening in 2008, take a look !

http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1235/Default.aspx

LGA777

 

[nycbusdriver]

Dear Uncle Doug:
How excited we are for the new route to Beijing. I have two requests as we begin our planning.
1) Can we please have real bunks. A private crew rest area? While napping on the floor of the 330 yesterday I had my hand run over by the beverage cart. The week before while in my "rest seat" my shoulder was knocked out of joint by a passenger "of size" running to the restroom, the passenger behind me kept kicking my seat and left her window shade open. Please, oh please?
2) Please don't screw this up. Can we have real professionals plan the service on this flight. The Far East is very much into custom. Let's not embarrass ourselves my biting off more that we cashew.
Thanks

C or B -

Dream on. Tempe has no concept at all of what you are asking. Why should they hire real professionals to design and plan this service? They know it all...just ask them...with their vast history of exceptional and widely acclaimed transoceanic service.

You know, not to put a damper on things, two years is a long time.

Art -

The start date is 18 months from TODAY, not 2 years. And in terms of getting their act together, 18 months way too little time for the nimrods in Tempe to figure out what they are going to do. (Heck, it will be Thanksgiving before Doogie's hangover goes away after the party tonight.)

It would have been hugely amusing if they had given the 2008 authority to Doogie and Company. They are already SO FAR behind the power curve on what they have in place now, it would have been hilarious to see them try to get this transpacific route operating in just a few months.

 

[PA18]

Here is the press release:

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070925/latu105.html?.v=101

Press Release Source: US Airways

US Airways Awarded New China Route
Tuesday September 25, 11:33 am ET
Airline plans to begin its first-ever non-stop service to Beijing from its Philadelphia hub in 2009
TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced it has awarded US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) a new route between its Philadelphia hub and the Chinese capital city of Beijing. The daily service to China will begin in 2009 with wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft configured to seat 269 (42 Envoy and 227 economy). The flight will originate at the airline's hub in Charlotte, N.C.(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050223/LAW097LOGO)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: US Airways

I still have my suspicions that the A340 is just a carrot to try to lead the East pilots into signing a contract. The company only needs 51% of the East pilots to ratify, with 100% of the West pilots already on board, with that winning lottery ticket burning a hole in their pocket. (Back in the late 80's, Carl Icahn ordered a bunch of A330's and A340's in a successful ploy to get the TWA pilots to agree to a contract, knowing damn well he had no intention of ever taking delivery of those aircraft, which were still on the drawing board.)

And the little tidbit about the flight originating in CLT was aimed squarely at that segment of the East pilots who have been the most loyal "Yes" votes on every previous concessionary contract. ("Let My Daddy Vote".)

And as Jim mentioned, the authority can be sold (and the 340's canceled) at a later date. After that last "Yes" vote has been tallied.

 

[zethya]

The Air Canada A-340-500's have gone or are going to Tam Brazil so I doubt we could get those. ...

The 340-500 transfers to TAM have either been delayed (doubtful) or canceled by AC and have been re-listed for Lease effective 9/1/07 with immediate availability.

 

[Elevation]

It would have been hugely amusing if they had given the 2008 authority to Doogie and Company. They are already SO FAR behind the power curve on what they have in place now, it would have been hilarious to see them try to get this transpacific route operating in just a few months.

They don't have a request for 2008 why would they get it? Or just some more passive aggressive comedy?

 

[JAMAKE1]

Does USAirways even have Chinese language speakers?

 

[LGA777]

The 340-500 transfers to TAM have either been delayed (doubtful) or canceled by AC and have been re-listed for Lease effective 9/1/07 with immediate availability.

Very interesting, I stand corrected. The only problem is they are available immediatly but US does not need them immediatly.

Did anyone else notice the press release says A-340's but does not mention the model ?

Cheers

LGA777

 

[Elevation]

Looks like the same seat config as advertised and maybe the same lay flat seats? Air Canada A340-500

 

[jimntx]

The tentative awards are just as stated...it allows others to file objections/appeals. After some period of time, they automatically become permanent. However, the DOT may also be looking at/listening to the airline merger rumors. If two airlines were to merge that both had been given route authority to the same city in China--regardless of flight origination city--the DOT may decide to revisit the awards.

Did I miss something or are only DL and UA constrained from selling their route authorities for 5 years? That's odd to say the least--the most recent entry and the most experienced airline to that market, but no one in between.

 

[JAMAKE1]

Allegheny. The Big airline with the hometown touch: Binghamton, Buffalo, Burlington...Beijing! Who would've thunk?