Airtran/Ryan A320s - How's it going?

[Heavy Set]

I just saw an Airtran/Ryan A320 lift off out of LAX today. Just had a few questions related to the operation:

1. How long is Ryan expected to actually operate the ATL-LAX service? How long is the contract?

2. Any word on load factors? Is the operation meeting expectations?

3. Are any actual Airtran pilots flying the Airbus as well (to check the A320 out) - flying with the Ryan pilots?

4. Will the Ryan guys be given the opportunity to join AirTran upon expiration of the deal?

5. Any AirTran guys check out the A320 - what are your impressions of the aircraft vs. your speedy 717s?


The Airbus looked nice in the AirTran paint scheme.

Cheers

 

[RyanB727]

Ryan A320's

I fly 727's for Ryan....I haven;t seen any Ryan A320 guys post on this board so I'll go ahead and tell you what I know. I'm sure an actual 320 guy would know more but this is what I know:

(answering your questions in order)

1. The contract for LAX (and LAS) is for one year. I have HEARD (as in, this part is not necessarily fact) that it can be extended up to two and a half years but after that the Airtran guys' contract says they have to start flying it (again....the two and a half years part is RUMOR, not FACT).

2. I was talking to one of the A320 Standards guys in management the other day and he said as a non-rev you'd be LUCKY to get a seat on any of those flights. Apparently they are all pretty full.

3. To my knowledge, there are no mixing of crews. Only Ryan guys flying the Airbus for now.

4. That happened to some Ryan guys in the past. We flew 737's for Morris Air which was then bought by Southwest. Its certainly not unprecedented but, to my knowledge, there has been no promise (or even anything IMPLIED) that it could happen in this case.

5. I can't speak to this point.

Hope this info is what you were looking for.

 

[Networ-King]

Heavyset,

They have it for 18 months.....

They have been screwing things up in ATL, but its been fixed. Plane also had some problems with the SFCC..(slat flap control computer).... heard 4 or 5 no flap landings..... its fixed by now.

Crews showing up late, not dressed properly, no hats, brown ties.....blah blah blah...just stupid Sh!t.

This is what was always referred to as the LEARNING STAGE of the contract at Ryan. LOL...........

Loads are good.

As far as Airtran taking the Ryan pilots?....... I think you and I have a better chance of being related then Airtran taking the Ryan pilots......... DAD? That you?

And no..... the crews don't fly together.

 

[flx757]

The Ryan wet-lease contract is a "one year, renewable contract". (These are the exact words used by our CEO to describe it.) It currently runs for one year, at the end of which the company has the option to renew. There are certain limitations built in to the LOA between the AirTran pilots and the company which give the conditions that the wet-lease can or would be terminated.

Expect an announcement any time now about AirTran's aircraft order, the delivery of which will begin by next year. Once these aircraft begin to be delivered, AirTran will begin to operate these (as well as any other) longer-haul flights ourselves.

As others have stated, the Ryan/AirTran A320s are only operated by Ryan crews.

 

[Jack Schitt]

If these new planes are to be delivered next year, wouldn't you think the big announcement would have come at the Paris Airshow? I'm assuming it would be a pretty large order.

 

[AFcitrus]

From what I hear an announcement is in the very near future. I don't know if we have decided which airplane to go with or not but supposedly Boeing and Airbus reps. have been crawling around Orlando for some time now. I think AirTran is working the best deal we can get and is "driving the negotiation bus". Whichever aircraft maker comes up with the majic numbers is who we will go with. It's a beautiful time to be buying new airplanes!

 

[Ty Webb]

The Company has stated in various filings and press releases that an announcement will be made this summer. We line pilots thought it owuld be made at the Paris Air Show, but ovbviously that is not the case.

There have been many press stories that the US Gummint has been encouraging companies not to participate heavily in the Paris Air show, so i am not surprised that the announcement has not been made yet, but it will come soon, and they have said that aircraft delivieries should begin approximately one year fro the announcement, although I owuld not be surprised if they started showing up sooner.

Hoping it's Boeing . . . . . . . but realizing that we have to go with the best deal overall.