US Airways, Still an Airbus Company

[FDJ2]

AIRLINE STOCKS
U.S. Airways higher following plane orders

By Padraic Cassidy, MarketWatch
Last Update: 10:17 AM ET Jun 18, 2007

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Airline shares mostly rose Monday, with U.S. Airways Group climbing as the carrier placed a large order for Airbus aircraft.
Crude-oil futures registered minor losses in early energy trading, helping push the Amex Airline Index (XX:$XAL: news, chart, profile) higher by 0.7% at 49.38 points.

Earlier Monday, Airbus announced a string of orders at the Paris Air Show, including a key deal with U.S. Airways which ordered 60 single-aisle aircraft and 32 widebody aircraft and slightly increased its previously announced order for A350s.
The airline expects to take delivery of the first A350-800 in 2014, becoming the North American launch customer for the fleet type. Its Boeing 737-300/400s will be eliminated from the fleet as the A320s are delivered, U.S. Airways said.

 

[CA1900]

I guess the "U.S" part of their name is just a gimmick.

 

[TWA Dude]

60 A320s doesn't replace every USAirways 737. Chief pilot told me last week that every 737 would be gone by 2012. Perhaps a Boeing order isn't out of the question. (Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.)

 

[BoilerUP]

Too bad; the 737s looked nice in the new paint.

 

[Lampshade]

60 A320s doesn't replace every USAirways 737. Chief pilot told me last week that every 737 would be gone by 2012. Perhaps a Boeing order isn't out of the question. (Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.)

For someone thats never flown a Boeing design why do you care?

 

[acbarney]

For someone thats never flown a Boeing design why do you care?

Just a guess here...but if the recently announced 320 order doesn't replace all of the retiring 737's, maybe he's worried about more shrinkage (apologies to Seinfeld)

 

[On Your Six]

787 or A350?

I thought I read about a USAirways 787 order a few weeks ago? Did that happen too? Or is the A350 order taking the place of a 787 order? What widebodies are on the way and when will they arrive?

 

[PositiveRate]

That 787 story was incorrect. No Boeings coming our way.

Beginning in 2009 - 10 A330-200's with options to convert to A340's if Asia happens. These are replacements for the 767.

Beginning in 2014 - 22 A350-800 & 900's.

From reading the FAQ on the company website, all planes on order are for replacement, NOT growth. They did leave the door open that some of them can be used for growth by delaying planned retirements, but knowing them, that won't happen. They stated 360 planes by 2012...I think we're at 358+/- right now.

 

[TWA Dude]

For someone thats never flown a Boeing design why do you care?

Because I currently fly an Airbus.

 

[xanderman]

bummer

Ya know as an airbus pilot I was kinda looking forward to seeing some new boeings arrive on property. Guess I'm gonna wait a while... What a bummer...

 

[On Your Six]

Yeah, those 787s look pretty cool too. I think nearly 300 787s will be in service before the first A350 rolls out to the first customer......... Check out Virgin's 787 online demo:

http://www.virginatlanticdreamliner.com/index.html

 

[sean67]

That 787 story was incorrect. No Boeings coming our way.

Beginning in 2009 - 10 A330-200's with options to convert to A340's if Asia happens. These are replacements for the 767.

Beginning in 2014 - 22 A350-800 & 900's.

From reading the FAQ on the company website, all planes on order are for replacement, NOT growth. They did leave the door open that some of them can be used for growth by delaying planned retirements, but knowing them, that won't happen. They stated 360 planes by 2012...I think we're at 358+/- right now.

It looks like growth in the widebody fleet. Are my numbers wrong?

 

[PositiveRate]

The new 330's will replace the 767's. As long as the 350 does not replace the 330 fleet, then those 22 widebodies would be growth A/C. That's 7 yrs away, though, and that also assumes airbus gets the 350 done by then....those are BIG assumptions.

 

[Lampshade]

Because I currently fly an Airbus.

So the Airbus is not as good as the Boeing in your mind?

 

[PHXFLYR]

So the Airbus is not as good as the Boeing in your mind?

With regards to the narrow bodies (and having flown both) absolutley not.
If you like bells and whistles and all sorts of electronic gadgets to play with "the 'bus" wins hands down. If your looking for an airframe that will take a beating day in and day out and still give you good completion numbers,you can't beat the 737. Airbus just takes too much coddling to get it going. Boeing,just insert the key and crank.Oh,well. It was fun while it lasted.


PHXFLYR

 

[Lampshade]

With regards to the narrow bodies (and having flown both) absolutley not.
If you like bells and whistles and all sorts of electronic gadgets to play with "the 'bus" wins hands down. If your looking for an airframe that will take a beating day in and day out and still give you good completion numbers,you can't beat the 737. Airbus just takes too much coddling to get it going. Boeing,just insert the key and crank.Oh,well. It was fun while it lasted.


PHXFLYR

You mean like the 787 and the 737ng.

 

[PlaneDrvr]

60 A320s doesn't replace every USAirways 737. Chief pilot told me last week that every 737 would be gone by 2012. Perhaps a Boeing order isn't out of the question. (Yeah, I know, wishful thinking.)

Its not my company, but just looking at the #s; current total for B-737-300/400 is (96) a/c (airlinepilotcentral), and they have existing orders/options (before todays order/announcement) of (37) A319/320/321, then add the new (today's announcement) order of (60) additional orders/options. Adds up to (97) total new Airbi, so seems to me like a total 'replacement' order.

But, maybe I am missing something??

Just my $0.02.

DA

 

[TWA Dude]

But, maybe I am missing something??

Your math is better than mine. I forgot about the previous orders.

So the Airbus is not as good as the Boeing in your mind?

I prefer Boeing's design philosophy.

 

[big_al]

i wonder why there are already A320s being parted out and sitting stripped in the desert when dc-9s, 737s, etc are still being used.

 

[PowerRanger]

What aqircraft is LCC using to replace the 757. Don't say that A320 and more specfically the 321.

Both are more on par with the 737 and are in no way competition for the 757, more especially the 321. That thing is a dog and is basically just a "fly more people" airplane at the cost of range.

 

[TWA Dude]

What aqircraft is LCC using to replace the 757.

Nothing. (yet?)

 

[PHXFLYR]

You mean like the 787 and the 737ng.

No I'm talking airframe and tempermental avionics. Wish I had a nickle every time we would switch from ground power to APU and get an ECAM message telling us that one of the FGCS' just failed.With regards to the airframe, I don't know,I just think the Boeing airframe is more robust. Although I guess the Aloha accident could disprove that point.


PHXFLYR

 

[Lampshade]

What aqircraft is LCC using to replace the 757. Don't say that A320 and more specfically the 321.

Both are more on par with the 737 and are in no way competition for the 757, more especially the 321. That thing is a dog and is basically just a "fly more people" airplane at the cost of range.

The real question is what is Boeing doing to replace the 757? Neither A or B have an answer yet. Do you have a suggestion for LCC as what to pick?

 

[Hpilot]

Truly sad. Boeing offered to open a second 787 line. We could have had 20 787s by the time the first A350 lifts off. Bad move.

 

[Lampshade]

Truly sad. Boeing offered to open a second 787 line. We could have had 20 787s by the time the first A350 lifts off. Bad move.

A second line just for US Airways 20 airplane order, wow! What's Boeing going to do without us!

The bottom line is Airbus made a deal US Airways couldn't refuse. They are paying old A350 launch customer price (a warmed over A330- read much cheaper than 787) for a new A350xwb (777 sized aircraft not 787 size). They probably got such a good deal they added 2 more to there order for a total of 22. It's business you'd do it too.

 

[PHXFLYR]

Your probably right...but still.


PHXFLYR

 

[get2flyin]

PHXFLYR, I dunno man. I've never flown the Boeing, but the Bus is pretty nice duty. The newer 737's are probably nicer than the ones AWA has but ask a regular passenger (or a flight attendant for that matter) which one they prefer riding on and they'll chose the Bus hands down. And if you don't think the passengers preference counts when buying aircraft, then why did the turbo props get sent to the desert most commuters? Passengers thought they were WWII surplus. Now evidently the 50 seat jet isn't the answer to everybody's prayers. Huh, imagine that.

Of course, with that said it does suck to buy from the Frenchies when we could be buying American. That 787 sounds like an incredible aircraft. I'd bet my lunch money the Airbus guys offered to bend over their desks and let Doug go to town on them. They need some big sales numbers to at least give the appearance of Airbus desirability to the rest of the industry. I'm sure for the give away price, Doug was only too happy to oblige.
http://forums.flightinfo.com/member.php?u=8000

 

[Marko Ramius]

i wonder why there are already A320s being parted out and sitting stripped in the desert when dc-9s, 737s, etc are still being used.

Of course, I believe the highest time A320's are flying with Lufthansa and AmWest and are still in service at @ 20 years with no apparent end in sight. I think they are starting a freighter mod program too which means that they aren't going away whether people want them too or not.

 

[AA717driver]

You mean like the 787 and the 737ng.

Consdering you've never flown a real Boeing product, what do you care?

PHXFLYR gave you a pretty good comparison and he has the experience to back it up.

Maybe you're just not into hand flying. I know from first hand experience that TWA Dude does a fine job of that. TC

 

[Eagle757shark]

What aqircraft is LCC using to replace the 757. Don't say that A320 and more specfically the 321.

Both are more on par with the 737 and are in no way competition for the 757, more especially the 321. That thing is a dog and is basically just a "fly more people" airplane at the cost of range.

The current plan with this order is to keep 20 757s solely to do the mainland to Hawaii flying.