Us Cuts Flights At Phl, Fll, And Clt

eolesen

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Jul 23, 2003
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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."
 
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.

Hey A320, so much for the MAJOR ASSAULT on AA out of FLL!

Looks like US is giving up PHL-TPA to WN, cutting three flights!
 
Well the 15 737s were with GECAS, sounds like this is an additional 11 to me.
 
Some of the Fort Lauderdale service is being pulled down, but the company is expanding its airport facilities and ground work force, thus it appears that part of the move could be seasonal and the Panama City and San Salvador service is poor performing. In regard to Panana City and San Salvador, the announcement was likely due to poor bookings. Over all, it’s my understanding much of the Fort Lauderdale plan is a success with strong bookings and obviously some is not as successful.

The GE aircraft removal plan I believe called for one A319 to be returned to GECAS per month from February through August and three in September and then 15 B737s in 2006 and 2007. It's unclear if this has changed.

For pilots, bid 05-02 results were just released, thus it appears this news has already factored into the May/June bid. The good news is it appears the company will likely increase utilization of its existing fleet.

Separately, the Passenger Baggage Call Center in PIT is closing. Baggage-related calls will be directed to a new call center operated by a company called Atento in El Salvador. Atento has begun the training for the US Airways group and they will be servicing calls beginning this week. US Airways currently has a Website Technical Support Center in San Salvador and is likely to open a new reservations center there too.

Separately, I wonder how much the Air Wisconsin agreement effected the decision to pull down B737 flying.

Regards,

USA320Pilot
 
Looks like another failed Transformation Plan, no wonder they US did not file the POR on 2/15/05, they once again have shown they have no clue on how to run an airline.

By returning 11 Boeing 737 aircraft to lessors beginning in May

Get Ready for ROUND FOUR!
 
700UW said:
Looks like another failed Transformation Plan, no wonder they US did not file the POR on 2/15/05, they once again have shown they have no clue on how to run an airline.
Get Ready for ROUND FOUR!
[post="250848"][/post]​
reduction in head count forthcoming!!!
 
USA320Pilot said:
Over all, it’s my understanding much of the Fort Lauderdale plan is a success with strong bookings and obviously some is not as successful.
[snip]
The good news is it appears the company will likely increase utilization of its existing fleet.
[post="250847"][/post]​

Spin, spin, spin.... So much spin I'm a gettin' dizzy.....

USA320Pilot said:
US Airways currently has a Website Technical Support Center in San Salvador and is likely to open a new reservations center there too.
[post="250847"][/post]​

Yup. Probably staffed and managed by Atento employees.

Keep on spinning, edited by mod Maybe you can go on Leno with plates on a stick sometime....
 
US Airways said, “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.â€￾

By flying its remaining fleet more hours per day the company will increase its aircraft productivity and lower aircraft ownership costs. In addition, the company will be able to fly more its current schedule less 14 flights will less people due to increased productivity, which will also lower unit costs.

Nobody likes to see aircraft and people leave the company, but with soaring energy prices and cutthroat LCC expansion, its understandable to see more “painfulâ€￾ moves.

Best regards,

USA320Pilot
 
USA320Pilot said:
Former ModerAAtor:

Since you seem to be so smart, how would you deal with the current enrgy prices and low revenue environment?

Regards,

USA320Pilot
[post="250856"][/post]​
ahhhh...lemme guess...we're going to shrink back into profitability?? :shock:
 
700UW said:
Looks like another failed Transformation Plan, no wonder they US did not file the POR on 2/15/05, they once again have shown they have no clue on how to run an airline.
Get Ready for ROUND FOUR!
[post="250848"][/post]​

Looks like this management team could be taking classes from the IAM in management success.
 
DellDude:

US Airways will likely maintain its ASM's, but as Bruce Ashby said, ""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."

Do I like it? No, of course not but with high energy prices, how do would you solve the problem?

Regards,

USA320Pilot