A few weeks ago current and new US Airways vice president of flight operations Ed Bular held a conference call with all Chief Pilots, Base Manager's, Base Adminstrator's, and certain Flight Training Department personnel.
Bular told conference call participants that there are no plans to close any crew base.
In addition, last week the Company released the November Flight Crew trip pairings, which now have all Shuttle flying conducted with one-day trips starting on November 14. The change has been made to not only improve crew and aircraft productivity, but to dramatically reduce hotel and per diem expense. This cost savings requires BOS, LGA, and DCA to remain a flight crew base.
Another key reason to keep the Shuttle airports as a crew base, is that these airports have originator and terminator flights to the hubs, which by having a crew base in these locations also reduces expense by not having to pay extra for RON's.
If a base closes, I believe the most likely base is PIT, but according to Chief Pilot Jim Corbusier, the base has been reduced, but will not close. Meanwhile, Doug Parker recently spoke with ACAA and other local officials, where US Airways’ new CEO indicated PIT would maintain at its current size. Local officials lobbied Parker to add more service and the CEO indicated dependent upon demand, that could occur in the future, thus, I do not believe PIT will close as a crew base.
Regards,
USA320Pilot
