NASA says it will build quiet supersonic passenger jet
April 1st, 2016 at 3:42:10 AM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
The American Pilot's Union strike in 1997 was caused by the introduction of regional jets, and the decision by American airlines to put them under the American Eagle banner along with the turboprop. Pilots foresaw that regional jets would continue to increase in size and range, and that there position would continue to erode over the years. The current limit of 74 seats for an Express jet has to be coming under severe strain, as Embraer and Bombardier are producing larger planes. Now we have the low cost Russian planes of about 100 seats. I think the pilots will resist any further corporate divisions, as they will perceive it as another attack on their salaries. That is why I think they will just have to lease out the business to an existing airline. I think of Southwest since they are not currently competing on the lucrative transoceanic international flights. From website 112 USA airports are served by United Airlines mainline. I created this table from Sept 2015 data (which was the latest available). United % - Airport - United cumulative % of domestic seats 12.90% ORD 12.90% 10.78% IAH 23.69% 10.47% SFO 34.15% 9.92% DEN 44.07% 8.64% EWR 52.71% 6.32% LAX 59.04% 4.16% IAD 63.20% 2.66% BOS 65.86% 2.59% LAS 68.46% 1.98% MCO 70.44% 1.94% SEA 72.38% 1.68% SAN 74.06% 1.62% HNL 75.67% 1.53% LGA 77.20% 1.22% PDX 78.42% 1.12% CLE 79.53% 1.05% PHX 80.59% 1.05% AUS 81.63% 0.96% TPA 82.60% 0.91% SNA 83.51% 0.86% DCA 84.37% 0.81% PHL 85.18% 0.79% MSY 85.97% 0.76% JFK 86.73% United Airlines discontinued operations from JFK on October 24, 2015. 0.73% BWI 87.47% 0.71% FLL 88.18% 0.70% ATL 88.88% 0.70% MSP 89.58% 0.60% DFW 90.18% 0.55% SAT 90.73% 0.52% PIT 91.25% 0.49% SMF 91.75% 0.45% MIA 92.20% The table goes on for another 80 airports which handle 8% of United's business. My question is if you look at (0.71% FLL) and (0.45% MIA) then hypothetically what if mainline operations are dropped at Miami. Fort Lauderdale routes United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Newark, San Francisco Seasonal: Cleveland (LAX/IAD missing) United Express none Miami routes United Airlines Houston–Intercontinental, Newark Seasonal: Chicago–O'Hare, Denver Charter: Havana United Express Houston–Intercontinental, Chicago–O'Hare, Seasonal: Newark The easiest way to downsize (which is done more often at small airports) is to just have United Express operations. But Express planes, are no bigger than the Embraer E-175 with 76 seats (12/16/48). United Express, by virtue of pilot's union agreement, is forbidden to fly the Embraer E-190 which can handle 106 passengers in 2-class, standard configuration. Another possibility is the collapse of the current pilot's agreement, and United Express being expanded to include all narrow body aircraft and take over the entire domestic routes. Pilot's say this outcome is impossible. Now the question is how much money would United save by not having any infrastructure at 80 airports? |
April 2nd, 2016 at 1:02:07 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 | JBLU may be expanding its wings and getting an international footprint. Someone there reading the thread? The President is a fink. |
April 2nd, 2016 at 3:44:43 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | They look like compatible fleets (JBLU and VA). JBLU 130+ 12 Airbus A320 27+ 2 Airbus A321 60+3 Embraer ERJ-190 Virgin America 10 Airbus A319 50 Airbus A320 Alaska Air 153+4 Boeing 737 5 Canadair CRJ-700 7 Embraer ERJ-170 |
April 2nd, 2016 at 4:09:10 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 |
I think the network is better suited to JBLU. Would also hate to see that great tail of AK be changed. Wonder why this all of the sudden? Owners of VA realize aviation is a plain awful biz and sell when getting is good? The President is a fink. |
April 2nd, 2016 at 6:41:38 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | Virgin America began operations August 8, 2007 while Jet Blue began operations in August 1998. But VA is only a fraction of the size of Jet Blue (basically the size of JBLU international business). VA total operations 9 months 2015 (domestic and international) 5,142,970 passengers Jet Blue international operations 9 months of 2015 = 4,713,944 passengers and domestic operations 21,464,644 passengers Alaska Air international operations 9 months of 2015 = 1,085,263 passengers and domestic operations 16,078,730 passengers
Probably. I think that Virgin Atlantic just overshadowed the profit of Virgin America. |
April 2nd, 2016 at 7:23:56 PM permalink | |
terapined Member since: Aug 6, 2014 Threads: 73 Posts: 11786 |
I sell some B6 (JBLU) , hardly any Virgin America I have sold some Virgin Australia Sometimes we live no particular way but our own - Grateful Dead "Eyes of the World" |
April 2nd, 2016 at 7:57:29 PM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
It is reported that Alaska Air is the winner. It seems that Virgin America was leasing all but 8 aircraft, so Alaska is just taking over the leases. 10 Airbus A319 8.5 Years 50 Airbus A320 5.9 Years |
April 8th, 2016 at 4:59:37 PM permalink | |
AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18136 |
A few things happened here- It appears jetBlue may have won by losing as AK may have really overpaid. AK has jumped to be the largest non-trunk carrier in the USA. I have to wonder on this. Yes, "size breeds success" in the industry, but nobody ever did really good being the largest of the small or the smallest of the large (ask USAir.) I read in a story that JBLU may be trying to buy Hawaii Airlines. Unless there is good Asia business I see that as a total disaster as CONUS-HI is a magnet for leisure travelers using their FF miles. If JBLU has cash burning a hole the better course may be to lock up some cheap oil production for the next price spike? The President is a fink. |
April 8th, 2016 at 5:24:47 PM permalink | |
beachbumbabs Member since: Sep 3, 2013 Threads: 6 Posts: 1600 |
Hawaiian would be a complicated purchase for anybody. I would give JBU credit for trying, but...they're not going to want it, I don't think. It's a very volatile commuter for the most part, island-hopping about 90% of their flight legs, some of it non-radar, very high cycle rate on the airframes, heavy maintenance costs, very high gas prices (almost double CONUS), complex subsidy agreements with the state (no practical way to get from island to island other than flying as ferries are dangerous and not run) so ticket prices are very strange and depend on your address and heritage along with all the other ticketing factors. CONUS and Asia pax are very expensive tickets, inter-island all over the place. Jobs protected for native pilots/cabin attendants/rampers/operations, benefits complicated by State of HI healthcare requirements, and overall the Island Way of life causes performance issues with all CONUS airlines who fly there. It's really a one-off among US airlines. Many of their listed overseas flights are actually code-shares flown by partners; they mostly do the grinding short-hops, but do run a few HNL-overseas themselves. Never doubt a small group of concerned citizens can change the world; it's the only thing ever has |
May 15th, 2016 at 8:04:48 AM permalink | |
Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 | Icelandair has the biggest fleet of B757s outside of the USA fleets
Icelandair has the following current fleet 25 Boeing 757-200 : 183 seats Icelandair has the following 16 airplanes on order. 9 Boeing 737 MAX 8 : 153 seats 7 Boeing 737 MAX 9 : 172 seats Although the 737 max has an advertised range of 4045 miles, I doubt that Icelandair will use it on these 6 longer routes as they may not make the distance every day and require technical stops to refuel. Aussie, what is your opinion on the so called "middle of market" airplane, sometimes called the B757 replacement? Do you think it will happen? Personally, I think that Boeing will view it as a possibility to sell more of the smaller Dreamliners. I understand that the Dreamliner project may not break even with over 1100 orders 787-8 435 787-9 546 787-10 162 Dreamliner 1,143 orders |