CO looking at Q400s

[whlinder]

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news...e2-54c1a2a2545c

Bombardier in line for turboprop order


Continental Airlines of the U.S. is seeking to place 24 Bombardier 70-passenger Q400 turboprops on its domestic runs by early next year, replacing some small regional jets, says industry publication Aviation International News. Large turboprops, made by Bombardier in Toronto and by the Franco-Italian ATR in Europe, use less fuel than small regional jets on short-haul flights, resulting in a one-third advantage in operating costs. Bombardier booked net sales of 60 Q400s last year. It has confirmed the strength of the turboprop market worldwide and may build a larger Q400, but it does not comment on reports of orders.

Perfect aircraft for short-haul markets out of LGA, PHL, DCA and the Northeast. Too bad it is US Airways' business partner ( ) Continental who will be adding them to their regional ops.

Maybe someday...

 

[flyingcat]

Strikes me as a tale of two different operating philosophies.

One is treat your employees and frequent flyers right and look to be operationally efficient by driving cost out of your operation structurally.

Second way is to nickel and dime your employees and best customers then act surprised when there is a backlash.

I'll leave it to the board to figure out who uses which business model.

Well CO does not have the best history with organized labor. Although cleaning house has done wonders for management. Be careful what you wish for.

 

[FM2436]

I'd love to see Piedmont with a fleet of 60+ new dash-8-300s flying throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Sadly, it doesn't appear that will happen anytime soon.

The dash-8-400 is a big, big, airplane. I was in it when it came to SBY a few years ago. I wouldn't think Continental would be operating the aircraft from Newark. Houston and Cleveland more likely. Doesn't Continental restrict turboprop operations at Newark?

Back in May, Delta Airline announced first ever Dash-8 service to be flown by affiliate carrier Freedom Airlines

http://biz.yahoo.com/pz/060511/98932.html

 

[Flying Titan]

I would suspect EWR is the first place we'll see these aircraft. There are several markets that come to mind with more traffic than is ideal for their 50-seaters and not enough for their 737s. Markets like BUF, ROC, SYR, and others make a lot of sense. The Q400s move almost as quickly as the ERJs, so restrictions that CO has placed on its CO "Connection" turbo-props (e.g. Commutair B1900s) likely would not apply to these new aircraft.

 

[Art at ISP]

I have always thought the Q400 would be a valuable addition to the fleet. It would enable economical short range point to point flying, and from what I hear passengers of Horizon love it. It is quiet AND fast. I believe it cruises around 350KT.

One can only hope--at least maybe CO would put back the ISP-EWR shuttle they ran with ATR's way back when

 

[john john]

View attachment 4972From the Web site:

Performance is a critical element of the Q400’s remarkable capabilities.

Compared to the Q300, a number of key Q400 design refinements were introduced to contribute to:

360 kt (Mach .58) maximum cruise speed (75 kt higher)
230 to 450 nm more range
40% less time to climb
Exceptional airfield performance
A better ride
The Q400’s exceptional cruise speed, placing it on a par with jet block times up to over 400 miles, provides the flexibility needed to fly longer sectors. It’s ability to climb as well as a comparable jet provides considerable ATC flexibility while allowing the Q400 to reach its optimum cruise altitude sooner in order to take full advantage of its high speed capabilities.

Can it handle a full pax load and there bags and fuel for a ALT?

 

[Dash Trash]

Can it handle a full pax load and there bags and fuel for a ALT?

If it's anything like the -300, yes. Plus a jumpseater, plus the extra bags the earlier RJ left, plus the kitchen sink, maybe even the bathtub.

 

[PropPiedmont]

News Flash!!!!!

US Airways management has already asked Air Whisky to develope a 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rate.

After the CRJ-900 deal is figured out, US Airways will also be asking PSA and PDT to develope 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rates.

Expect another aircraft order announcement after the CRJ-900 flying has been resolved.

 

[algflyr]

After the CRJ-900 deal is figured out, US Airways will also be asking PSA and PDT to develope 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rates.

I'm pretty sure there are 70 seat pay rates in the current contract...

 

[whlinder]

US Airways management has already asked Air Whisky to develope a 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rate.

After the CRJ-900 deal is figured out, US Airways will also be asking PSA and PDT to develope 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rates.

Would a 70-seat pay rate require that the Q400 have a max of 70 seats? IIRC Horizon has 78 seats in their Q400s.

 

[chichi]

News Flash!!!!!

US Airways management has already asked Air Whisky to develope a 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rate.

After the CRJ-900 deal is figured out, US Airways will also be asking PSA and PDT to develope 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rates.

Expect another aircraft order announcement after the CRJ-900 flying has been resolved.

Cant imagine Q400s going anywhere but PDT, same type certificate, training in place, and currently flying dashes. It would be a great productive addition to PDT. Cant imagine them going anywhere else. Really, really stupid if they do.

 

[av8or]

Cant imagine Q400s going anywhere but PDT, same type certificate, training in place, and currently flying dashes. It would be a great productive addition to PDT. Cant imagine them going anywhere else. Really, really stupid if they do.

thats whipsaw for ya

News Flash!!!!!

US Airways management has already asked Air Whisky to develope a 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rate.

After the CRJ-900 deal is figured out, US Airways will also be asking PSA and PDT to develope 70 seat Turbo-Prop pay rates.

Expect another aircraft order announcement after the CRJ-900 flying has been resolved.

where'd ya get that from? the lavwall?
or flifo??

 

[PropPiedmont]

thats whipsaw for ya
where'd ya get that from? the lavwall?
or flifo??

Sorry, I don't participate in the lavwall. I'm unable to reveal my sources. Be patient it won't be long before we are in the negotiations.

 

[FM2436]

Something to think about when considering the dash-8-400 and the markets/airports the aircraft can operate from. Under TSA Airport Security requirements, 61-seat aircraft are the dividing point between airports that are required a compete security program (very expensive) and airports required the minimum supporting security program (less expensive). An airline can fly the dash-8-100/200/300, and any 50-seat RJ into an airport with a supporting security program, but you can't fly a 61+ seat dash-8-400 into that airport. Any airport can implement a complete security program, but typically those expensive costs are passed by the airport onto the airlines in the form of higher rents and charges. There's likely many current Express markets/airports US Airways wouldn't be able to operate the dash-8-400 from.

 

[PropPiedmont]

Something to think about when considering the dash-8-400 and the markets/airports the aircraft can operate from. Under TSA Airport Security requirements, 61-seat aircraft are the dividing point between airports that are required a compete security program (very expensive) and airports required the minimum supporting security program (less expensive). An airline can fly the dash-8-100/200/300, and any 50-seat RJ into an airport with a supporting security program, but you can't fly a 61+ seat dash-8-400 into that airport. Any airport can implement a complete security program, but typically those expensive costs are passed by the airport onto the airlines in the form of higher rents and charges. There's likely many current Express markets/airports US Airways wouldn't be able to operate the dash-8-400 from.

Good point. That only solidifies the reason why the Q400 won't be flown out East. If and when this aircraft arrives it will be flown on the West side. Stage lengths out East aren't long enough for the Q400, and where they are the loads are high enough for a CRJ7/9 or E190/737.