US Airways – JetBlue Embraer Aircraft Comparison
Prepared by Chip Munn
Aviation Daily reported breakeven load factor for US Airways’ Embraer 170s flown under the MidAtlantic Airways banner should be about 50 percent, vice president of express, Bruce Ashby said, noting, We''re pretty comfortable with that number.
According to ATWOnline, JetBlue chief executive officer David Neeleman said the airline would partially offset the cost of two fleet types by establishing a separate pilot roster for the Embraer 190. Under the JetBlue plan, an Embraer captain would fly for considerably less than an A320 Captain, although Embraer pilots will get a chance to transfer to the A320 after reaching a given seniority level. eanwhile, the airline calculations show the Embraer will fly break-even load factor of 60 percent, said Neeleman, compared with the A320s demonstrated 73% in JetBlue’s current network.
To break even, the JetBlue large Embraer aircraft must have a 10% higher load factor than US Airways large Embraer aircraft.
US Airways is scheduled to take delivery of its first of 85 firm order Embraer 170s in November 2003, although the first delivery could be delayed a few weeks. The company has the option to convert the Embraer 170s to Embraer 175s with 76-seats, it will accept an average 2.5 EMB aircraft per month for 34 months, and the airline will have 85 jets in its inventory by September 2006. US Airways also holds 100 Embraer 170/175,190, and 195 options.
JetBlue will take delivery of its first of 100 firm order 100-seat, single class EMB-190s in the third quarter 2005 and the airline will accept 1.5 aircraft per month. The carrier holds 100 options.
US Airways is scheduled to have 85 Embraer 170/175 aircraft in its inventory by September 2006.
JetBlue is scheduled to have about 16 Embraer 190 aircraft in its inventory by September 2006.
Best regards,
Chip
