America West Adding More Airbuses...

[On Your Six]

Great news about Cactus - adding 22 more Airbuses. Probably some great opportunities for pilots. How is the mood at Cactus? Are people more willing to stay or are they gaining time and leaving for Jet Blue? Great news - read below:


UPDATE - America West to buy 17 Airbus planes, lease 5
Thursday May 27, 9:12 am ET


(Recasts, adds details, changes dateline from NEW YORK)
CHICAGO, May 27 (Reuters) - America West Airlines on Thursday said it will add 22 Airbus planes to its fleet as part of its plan to increase its business by 8 to 10 percent in 2005 and 2006.


The Phoenix-based carrier, a unit of America West Holdings Corp. (NYSE:AWA - News), said it will buy 10 A320 aircraft and seven A319s directly from the manufacturer in late 2005 and 2006. The remaining five planes, which the airline would take delivery on in early 2005, will be leased.

America West, the No. 8 U.S. airline, launched cross-country service in the fall of 2003. It posted its fourth consecutive quarterly profit in April and predicted a full year in the black, while its larger rivals are suffering major losses.

America West has flown the A320 since 1991 and started flying the A319 in 1998. The airline currently operates a fleet of 139 aircraft, including 50 A320s and 32 A319s.

 

[Cactus73]

This is awesome news. Real mainline growth.

We have 6 Airbus' arriving this summer too. 672AW our newest 320 is in the PHX shop and almost ready for the line.

Now if we can just get some Boeings (this ones for you WD )

 

[Guppiedriver]

This is awesome news. Real mainline growth.

We have 6 Airbus' arriving this summer too. 672AW our newest 320 is in the PHX shop and almost ready for the line.

Now if we can just get some Boeings (this ones for you WD )

I saw 672AW flying revenue trips last week.

Jeff McClelland, AWA's COO, told a crew last week that we can get 3 A320's for the price of 2 B737-800's. He said we will continue to more A320/319's unless Boeing can match their price.

 

[Cactus73]

Even better that 672AW is flying.

Five more should be here this month or next.

Airbus are definitely priced better. Will they last as long as a Boeing, that is to be seen.

 

[Guppiedriver]

No they won't. They are designed with a 20 year life span. After 20 years they are off to the guillotine.

 

[Wiskey Driver]

This is awesome news. Real mainline growth.

We have 6 Airbus' arriving this summer too. 672AW our newest 320 is in the PHX shop and almost ready for the line.

Now if we can just get some Boeings (this ones for you WD )

I hear ya C73 and I will say that we do need to get some Boeings in the 757/67 range. I think we could make a run at some long haul international flying if we had the a/c for it.

WD.

 

[P3 Tweek]

AWA pilot staffing

Hey! This is good news for you AWA folks.

I'm not in the loop for employment at AWA but I'm wondering how many pilots are slotted per aircraft at AWA? Any older aircraft retiring/going to the bone yard soon? Net gain in AWA aircraft with the 22 Airbuses coming on line?

JUST CURIOUS!

Tweek

PS. How come no Boeings? Sweetheart deal with Airbus Industries and I'm guessing a deal to good to pass up.

 

[Cactus-Wrench]

Re: AWA pilot staffing

Hey! This is good news for you AWA folks.

I'm not in the loop for employment at AWA but I'm wondering how many pilots are slotted per aircraft at AWA? Any older aircraft retiring/going to the bone yard soon? Net gain in AWA aircraft with the 22 Airbuses coming on line?

JUST CURIOUS!

Tweek

PS. How come no Boeings? Sweetheart deal with Airbus Industries and I'm guessing a deal to good to pass up.

P3 Tweek,

I can't answer the question the pilots slotted per aircraft question, but I can assist with the aircraft coming or going.

By November AWA will have launched the last of our 737-200's from the property. May they RIP, wherever they eventually end up.
Many of the crews have heard more 757's coming for some central or south america adventures, who knows, I will believe it when I see it, that would be great to see, just as long as no 747's come rolling our way again, good deal or not, HaHa.

I have no actual numbers proof but had heard that after the 200's are gone, and I think there was a 737-300 that was leaving this year, but anyway we were actually -1 aircraft for the end result this year, like I said, I'm not positive on the actual net result when it is said and done this year but believe next year will be actually show some real 'main line' growth.

Have a great weekend

 

[P3 Tweek]

Thanks AWA Wrench!

Your information is helpful. Most of the old 737-200 have seen their day in the PHX sun. After 35-40 years I guess they are due.

I had no idea that the Airbuses were designed for ONLY a 20 year airframe life. I'm not sure I would want to be flying a 20 year old Airbus when they get to that point. The Boeing at 20 years - NO PROBLEM!

Tweek

PS. Wrench! Are you working on your airman ratings while A&Ping at AWA?

 

[Resume Writer]

I hear ya C73 and I will say that we do need to get some Boeings in the 757/67 range. I think we could make a run at some long haul international flying if we had the a/c for it.

WD.

Want the story on this WD?

Back in the early 90's, AWA was getting qualified for ETOPS with the 757. In his infinite wisdom (tongue in cheek), Bill Franke, former AWA CEO, decided to trash the process when it was very close to fruition. But then again, this is the same man that decided to outsource heavy checks, thinking he could save money. The checks were taking about 5 days longer than the in-house checks and 737 aircraft were coming back with 727 flaps on them. (cactus-wrench could probably tell you the exact days the checks were taking in-house versus out-sourced)

This is also the same man, who upon commencing his cancer-like presence on AWA, met with the Chief Pilot at the time and the Senior V.P. of Flight Ops and made this comment: (For those of you who do not know, Franke came from CircleK and some paper company)

(while looking at the pilot training records)

"I have been looking at these training records and I keep seeing the same names every 6 months. Can't we hire competent pilots?"

The CP thought he was kidding. When he realized he was not, gave him an "education" on FAA regulations regarding pilot training!

I heard this directly from the CP at the time, who is since deceased, so I am NOT making this up!

Amazing they let this man run the airline for as long as they did. Thank goodness he left and I think some things are getting better with Doug Parker. Even if people do not like Doug Parker, you have to admit that he has done a good job with the company, after taking the helm only 10 days prior to 9/11.

Kathy

 

[T-Bags]

No they won't. They are designed with a 20 year life span. After 20 years they are off to the guillotine.

I'm sorry, but that simply can't be correct. For example, look at Jblu's depreciation schedule. 25 years with a 20% residual value. IOW, a 25 YO A320 should have a value of $10 million dollars.....

 

[Marko Ramius]

I guess we'll see.....

The 320 first entered service(not with Am West) in 1988 I believe, so we'll see our first 20 year 320's in about 4 years. I think they're are alot of used A300's out there, and the latest version(-600) came out around '86 or so I think. Nothing is built like it used to be, and not just in this industry. I've heard from several places that the 737-300/400/500 weren't built as well as their predecessors so who knows? My bet is that mechanics will keep em flying to around the 25-30 year mark which is when Airbus will launch an advanced 320 and Boeing will launch an all new narrowbody based on 7E7/777 technology.

 

[P3 Tweek]

Thanks Kathy

Appreciate your input, Kathy, Marco, and T-Bags.
Tweek

 

[Cactus-Wrench]

Re: Thanks AWA Wrench!

Your information is helpful. Most of the old 737-200 have seen their day in the PHX sun. After 35-40 years I guess they are due.

I had no idea that the Airbuses were designed for ONLY a 20 year airframe life. I'm not sure I would want to be flying a 20 year old Airbus when they get to that point. The Boeing at 20 years - NO PROBLEM!

Tweek

PS. Wrench! Are you working on your airman ratings while A&Ping at AWA?

Funny you should mention that Tweek, I love jets, and I really do enjoy flying them. I have had a few opportunities to enjoy some SIM time at work (strictly training of course), and fire up the old flight sim at home, and even went as far as took a flying lesson, that's why my background shows 1 hour.
However, I have been with a lovely lady for the last 9 years, and she so happens to be a flight attendant, so I have a birds eye view of the wonderful schedule of a cabin crew member, and don't believe the schedules of a flight deck crew is that much different. Therefore, I have to say I like my own bed everynight. I give a lot of credit to these guys and gals that fly up and down and all over and in and out of hotels, motels, and crashpads.
You have probably heard the old saying,
A(irline)
I(induced)
D(ivorced)
S(yndrome)

It can be a lot of stress on relationships. But back to the point, I would love to get my private certificate, that way I could take the ole girl on a quiet little getaway from time to time (maybe the wife could come too, haha). But just don't believe I'd enjoy it "for hire" so to speak.

Happy flying and a wonderful, Memorial Day weekend to you. May we all take a moment this weekend to give something back to the many who unselfishly have given their lives for us.

 

[Guppiedriver]

I'm sorry, but that simply can't be correct. For example, look at Jblu's depreciation schedule. 25 years with a 20% residual value. IOW, a 25 YO A320 should have a value of $10 million dollars.....

I was told by a Airbus instructor that the A320 family of aircraft are disposable. After twenty years they are to be destroyed and there cannot be extensions to the life of the aircraft. I can't confirm this but the Airbus pilots I have talked to about this agree.

 

[Guppiedriver]

Your information is helpful. Most of the old 737-200 have seen their day in the PHX sun. After 35-40 years I guess they are due.

I had no idea that the Airbuses were designed for ONLY a 20 year airframe life. I'm not sure I would want to be flying a 20 year old Airbus when they get to that point. The Boeing at 20 years - NO PROBLEM!

Tweek

PS. Wrench! Are you working on your airman ratings while A&Ping at AWA?

AWA's -200's are not that old. They are all Ansett birds that were manufactured in 1983.