DOT awards US Airways and Delta China Routes

[Saabslime]

Sounds like Delta from Atlanta starting in March and AAA from PHL sometime in 2009.

 

[D-Bo]

Sounds like Delta from Atlanta starting in March and AAA from PHL sometime in 2009.

Everyone got one new route authorized to China. DAL NWA, LCO, UAL, CAL, and AMR.

 

[dirkdigler]

From US Air press release

US Airways Awarded New China Route

Airline plans to begin its first-ever non-stop service to Beijing from its Philadelphia hub in 2009

​

TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced it has awarded US Airways (NYSE: LCC) a new route between its Philadelphia hub and the Chinese capital city of Beijing. The daily service to China will begin in 2009 with wide-body Airbus A340 aircraft configured to seat 269 (42 Envoy and 227 economy). The flight will originate at the airline's hub in Charlotte, N.C.

 

[AAflyer]

Everyone got one new route authorized to China. DAL NWA, LCO, UAL, CAL, and AMR.

American Airlines has won the right to operate a new route from Chicago O'Hare International to Beijing in 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday.

The new route was part of several new routes Transportation Secretary Mary Peters announced Tuesday.

American felt the heavy manufacturing centers in the upper Midwest would help feed traffic on the new route.

American (NYSE: AMR) plans to operate the flight seven days a week using a 245-seat Boeing 777 aircraft. American already operates a flight to Shanghai out of Chicago.

The Fort Worth-based airline lost a bid last year for a new route from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to Beijing when the airline withdrew its application to the fly the route because it couldn't gain the support of its pilots.

"By bringing China and the U.S. one step closer, we increase our ability to compete, boost our success in the global marketplace, and make international travel for all passengers easier and more affordable," Peters said in a statement Tuesday

 

[BoilerUP]

Anybody want to venture a guess if West pilots will be scoped out of the A340 vacancies at Airways?

 

[j41driver]

When is USAirways getting A340's? I thought the 330 was the biggest 'Bus on property now.

 

[masedogg19]

When this was talked about earlier (bidding process?)...Airways said they would have to get A340's to fly the route....so since they got this new route, they must be able to get their hands on a few of them (Air Canada)

 

[PositiveRate]

I believe they will not come from Air Canada...word on the street is that those 5 A340's were sent to a foreign carrier.

 

[masedogg19]

Fair enough....what's the backlog right now on orders for a new one?

 

[Guppiedriver]

Anybody want to venture a guess if West pilots will be scoped out of the A340 vacancies at Airways?

I'll venture a guess......NO.

"All other aircraft, of whatever type, are "new" aircraft, positions on which are to be allocated to the pre-merger US Airways and America West pilot groups, respectively, 2:1 on widebodies
and 1:1 on narrow-bodies for a period of four
years from the date of this Award. Thereafter,
positions are to be allocated pursuant to the Seniority list."

"However, if the Age 60 limit is changed to Age 65
during the existence of this condition and restriction,
said condition and restriction shall cease to, exist
upon the effective date of the age limit change."

 

[RJAA]

U.S. Airways is way late in this China game. Getting another sub-fleet just to accomodate this PHL-PEK is going to be a very expensive venture and quite risky. The competetion is also firing up as everyone got a piece of the cake this time around. It would directly compete with Continental's China presense to PEK, and HKG and soon to include PVG out of EWR. They have been doing it for years. I would give it a 50/50 chance right now.

 

[Green]

U.S. Airways is way late in this China game. Getting another sub-fleet just to accomodate this PHL-PEK is going to be a very expensive venture and quite risky. The competetion is also firing up as everyone got a piece of the cake this time around. It would directly compete with Continental's China presense to PEK, and HKG and soon to include PVG out of EWR. They have been doing it for years. I would give it a 50/50 chance right now.

China is the most populous country in the world with a booming economy and a forecasted aviation growth rate well beyond anything out west. I don't think Cal's service to PEK or HKG is going to hurt LCC.

They are planning on serving Japan as well with the A340's so it won't be 5 airplanes dedicated solely to one route. I think they even mentioned Istanbul and Moscown as likely routes in the near future.