Us Airways Proposes Adding 60 Planes

[Bud8EE]

US Airways proposes adding 60 planes

Friday, January 16, 2004
By Dan Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

US Airways pilots union chief Bill Pollock met yesterday with senior management for the second time in as many days, opening a window to formal talks between the ailing Arlington, Va.-based carrier and its most influential union.

Meeting at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, three senior US Airways executives laid out a "state of the airline," describing its financial challenges and the company's desire to add 60 new Airbus A320 planes to the company's mainline fleet. Those planes, the executives said, could provide more jobs for pilots and fly point-to-point, thereby providing US Airways with a new weapon to use against low-fare carriers such as Southwest Airlines.

See Article

 

[Light Years]

I want to know how many EMPLOYEES they are interested in adding to the mainline fleet.

 

[willnotworkforfree]

I want to know how many EMPLOYEES they are interested in adding to the mainline fleet.

can you say....... NONE.

 

[PITbull]

It is very important that management downsize the ranks. WE as Labor have had to do more with less, management must take those steps and do the same.

In addition, it is imperative that they put a (management) cost-savings initiative together, so that we as Labor can see what additional sacrifices they will be giving to this new and improved business plan.

I am sure the ALPA MEC will demand this before they would ever consider opening any "gate" to their agreement. And I am sure they are savvy enough to get much more as an exchange for any productivity enhancements given.

Light,

From the rumors I've heard, management is seeking to bring these planes to operate with the same "head count". That's the productivity gain. However, pilots will ensure that they have protections. For Bill to slant ever so slightly, Dave had to offer his group the "world". After all, the "world" was taken from them in the first two concessions and a thrown in Defined pension.

 

[robbedagain]

with the added 60 jets, how about adding about 60 employees per plane and decreasing say about 2 mgmt per plane. and how about making point flying such as MCO-LAS or MCO-MHN (NH) and keep the price at or below SWA! Beat them at their own game!

 

[A320 Driver]

Given these added tools and some tweaking to our productivity, this employee group and airline could quickly turn around and become a force to be reckoned with.

A320 Driver B)

 

[737nCH11]

And all those ORD slots.....

 

[funguy2]

Folks... something stinks here... Where is Paul Harvey and the rest of the story?

I do not understand how US Airways is going close or severly cut back the PIT hub, add 170 regional jets, sell the shuttle and maybe the merged ALG/PDT, and add 60 Airbus aircraft.

This is a company which a year after bankrucptcy still cannot decide if it needs a PIT hub or not. All of these items do not make sense combined... The company needs to pick a direction and go there.

It would seem to me that UAIR could sell the LGA/DCA slots + LGA/DCA/BOS facilities (gate leases, specialized shuttle areas, etc), and keep the aircraft and accomplish the goal of selling and asset and "adding" aircraft simultaneously. But that is not what is being said.

How do you run out of a meeting with ACAA saying that if costs at PIT do not come down you will close the hub, only to run to another meeting with employees and say we're adding 60 airplanes. This sounds like a "two-face" to me.

 

[ZMAN777]

I hope for all the employees at U that this will be a net gain of 60 additional 320 type aircraft. Somehow, with all the woeful news surrounding the airline I feel this may be more likely replacement of existing 737 aircraft, thereby giving U much better utilization of assets and pilots. Such a move would make much sense as this would lower your operating costs.

The downside I believe is the company will ask for relief on work rules and pay rates making the net gain in numbers of employees negligible. I hope I'm wrong but I just don't see any other way it'll happen. Unless of course you agree to operate them at pay rates similar to what Jetbue has agreed to or at your current 737 pay rates.

Just my thoughts. Best wishes. Hang in there!!

Cheers,
Z B)

 

[AKA_trvlr64]

This sounds like a "two-face" to me.

Dave speaketh with Forked Tongue !! Very easy to then say to different things at the same time.


:blink:

 

[Bluestreak]

Please explain to this naive express pilot why you mainline folks are against changing your productivity rules? Don't you want to be able to compete with southwest? Or are you afraid Dave's team will squander your give backs and steal all the profits? If Dave wants to renegotiate your contracts why don't you demand profit sharing this time around? That way U will have the ability to tighten its belt during these tuff times, and when the times are good the employees that sacrificed for U's survival see the payback. Is everyone to paranoid and bitter at this point for a solution to be found?

 

[flyin2low]

How many A320's is TED going to operate, 60? There's 60 more planes flown by United pilots and the same head count at USAirways.

 

[whatkindoffreshhell]

Bill Pollock seems pretty proud of 'opening formal window' with management.

WTF are they wasting time with this public posturing??

Laughable to think they will buy 60 planes -- pay for 'em with green stamps??

For all the employees bichin about Dave Siegal and all his predecessors -- dontcha think your union leaders have also led you astray? Why should they keep their job?

Jes' sayin.

 

[funguy2]

How many A320's is TED going to operate, 60? There's 60 more planes flown by United pilots and the same head count at USAirways.

I thought initially TED was to had 40 airplanes... and that they would all come from regular United and be converted to TED. UAL is not buying airplanes, therefore does not need more pilots.

 

[bluetoad]

The pilots will cave in first, they always do since they have the most to lose. Of course Pollock has opened a dialogue. What are his options? Play hardball like the AFA or IAM? No way! ALPA will meet in closed session, agree to give productivity and pay concessions for the 3rd time and then they will put pressure on the rest of the unions to follow suit. More pilots furloughed as a result. All union leaders jobs will be safe however. Sad but true. ALPA contiues to lose on all fronts while blaming the commuters and LCC's for bringing down the pilot profession. Those LCC / commuter pilots are the same ones that were sacraficed and then abandoned by ALPA.

🙁