Smot4208 asked: "Also on a side note, as of right now, there will be 15 E190s left, would it be smart to put those on the shuttle routes?"
USA320Pilot comments: US Airways requires 12 aircraft to operate the Shuttle unless the Triangle Aircraft Routing is used where an aircraft flies LGA-BOS-DCA or LGA-DCA-BOS, which requires an 11-aircraft operation. US Airways tried the Triangle routing and performance suffered. In response Andrew Norcella's Department decided to return to a 12-aircraft point-to-point operation.
If US Airways elects to use 12 of the remaining 15 E-190s on the Shuttle 3 aircraft would remain in the inventory for mainline service.
There are a number of inherent problems of using the E-190s on the Shuttle such as reducing Airbus flexibility in route plannning, decreased crew utilization by opening three small Shuttle Pilot Domiciles or increasing crew RON expenses if a Shuttle Crew Base is closed, E-190 maintenance provisioning, etc. All of these issues would increase Shuttle operating expenses and perofrmance.
According to US Airways' management at DCA-LGA Slot Transaction Employee Meetings the current Shuttle operation is profitable.
And, I believe US Airways offers a better Shuttle product than Delta and US Airways will have the preferred Shuttle Terminal in December. US Airways' Shuttle loads are increasing with some spillover/passenger defection from Delta because LGA-DCA customers prefer the A319 over the E-175 and BOS-DCA customers prefer the A319 over the CRJ-200.
In my opinion, it is not a cut and dry decision on whether putting the remaining E-190s on the Shuttle is a good or bad decision. Operating a small fleet type is generally not a smart business move because small fleet types have higher costs, US Airways' current Shuttle operation is superior to Delta's, and is currently profitable.
HPDriver said: "The west is keeping a few 737's because the lessor let us keep them in exchange for maintaining them. They are, more or less, free. And this is NOT a rumor."
USA320Pilot comments: At August CQT sessions B737 Check Airman briefed pilots going through recurrent training that the company has been offered by B737 lessors to keep some East and West B737s in US Airways service instead of returning the aircraft to the lessors. Apparently, the lessors do not have other customers for the used jets and they have made attractive offers to US Airways to keep some B737s in service. In my opinion, if US Airways can get attractive B737 lease rates management may elect to keep some of the B737s scheduled to be retired in service and remove E-190s instead.
Last week USAPA President Mike Cleary said, "Many believe, as do I, that conditions for industry consolidation are becoming more favorable. The elimination of a small fleet type not shared by a partner may be enough of an incentive to convince Management that their decision to sell E-190s is warranted."
In my opinion, Mike Cleary may be correct.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
