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ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways announced today that it will adjust systemwide capacity, slowing growth, by returning 11 Boeing 737 aircraft to lessors beginning in May, as the benefits of increased aircraft productivity expand across its network.
Persistent and sustained high fuel costs as well as the weak revenue environment caused by industry overcapacity and low fares also played a significant role in the company's decision.
Overall, the return of aircraft will result in a net reduction of only 14 flights systemwide compared to the February 2005 schedule, and the discontinuation of service to two destinations, as most service will be replaced with regional jets or by increased utilization of the mainline existing fleet. Even with the May 2005 capacity adjustments, systemwide available seat miles (ASMs) are expected to increase between 4 and 6 percent year-over-year.
The May schedule includes a small change in service at US Airways' Charlotte, N.C., and Philadelphia hubs as well as the discontinuation of some flights at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
With the new schedule, US Airways will operate one less daily departure between Charlotte and Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla. In Philadelphia, US Airways will operate one less Hartford, Conn., Buffalo, N.Y., Norfolk, Va., Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., flight. Additionally, three Philadelphia-Tampa, Fla., flights will be discontinued.
Nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City, Panama; San Salvador, El Salvador; San Juan and Newark also will be discontinued. With the exception of Panama City and San Salvador, which US Airways no longer will serve, customers in these cities still will be able to connect to Fort Lauderdale via other US Airways cities.
Despite these reductions, US Airways has tripled the number of destinations served (from five to 15) at Fort Lauderdale, with 80 percent more capacity, since February 2004.
Pending the outcome of the company's voluntary early-out program and retirement decisions, at this time, US Airways does not foresee employee furloughs as a result of these actions (with the exception of San Salvador and Panama City).
"The revenue and fuel environment requires that we move quickly to retire some of our older aircraft and weakest flying that simply cannot be sustained," said Bruce Ashby, US Airways executive vice president of marketing and planning. "We are pleased with the positive impact of our new productivity and scheduling enhancements and this decision will have minimal impact on our customers. We must make some difficult decisions in order to complete our restructuring and position the company for success."
Persistent and sustained high fuel costs as well as the weak revenue environment caused by industry overcapacity and low fares also played a significant role in the company's decision.
Overall, the return of aircraft will result in a net reduction of only 14 flights systemwide compared to the February 2005 schedule, and the discontinuation of service to two destinations, as most service will be replaced with regional jets or by increased utilization of the mainline existing fleet. Even with the May 2005 capacity adjustments, systemwide available seat miles (ASMs) are expected to increase between 4 and 6 percent year-over-year.
The May schedule includes a small change in service at US Airways' Charlotte, N.C., and Philadelphia hubs as well as the discontinuation of some flights at Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
With the new schedule, US Airways will operate one less daily departure between Charlotte and Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla. In Philadelphia, US Airways will operate one less Hartford, Conn., Buffalo, N.Y., Norfolk, Va., Seattle, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Fla., flight. Additionally, three Philadelphia-Tampa, Fla., flights will be discontinued.
Nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Panama City, Panama; San Salvador, El Salvador; San Juan and Newark also will be discontinued. With the exception of Panama City and San Salvador, which US Airways no longer will serve, customers in these cities still will be able to connect to Fort Lauderdale via other US Airways cities.
Despite these reductions, US Airways has tripled the number of destinations served (from five to 15) at Fort Lauderdale, with 80 percent more capacity, since February 2004.
Pending the outcome of the company's voluntary early-out program and retirement decisions, at this time, US Airways does not foresee employee furloughs as a result of these actions (with the exception of San Salvador and Panama City).
"The revenue and fuel environment requires that we move quickly to retire some of our older aircraft and weakest flying that simply cannot be sustained," said Bruce Ashby, US Airways executive vice president of marketing and planning. "We are pleased with the positive impact of our new productivity and scheduling enhancements and this decision will have minimal impact on our customers. We must make some difficult decisions in order to complete our restructuring and position the company for success."
