United to cut 70 mainline jets, axe jobs, drop Ted
Jun 4th, 2008, 04:41 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
United to cut 70 mainline jets, axe jobs, drop Ted
June 4, 2008
United Airlines plans to reduce its mainline fleet by another 70 aircraft by the end of 2009 and announce further job cuts, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday.
The airline is expected to announce the planned cuts to its fleet of 460 aircraft later on Wednesday, the paper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The airline will drop 64 Boeing 737s by the end of next year, and also remove six 747s, the paper said.
UAL will also announce additional cuts of salaried and management workers, with cuts of unionized positions to follow later, the paper said.
UAL said in April it would cut 500 salaried and management workers and eliminate 600 union jobs by the end of 2008. It had also said it would cut 30 aircraft.
The newspaper said while the move would help the Chicago-based airline to deal with surging fuel costs, it would result in furloughs of unionized workers and a major reduction in routes that may be less profitable.
The company is also expected to ditch its domestic leisure service Ted, which has 56 Airbus A320 aircraft, and restore first-class cabins in some of those planes, the WSJ said.
United and rival US Airways ended merger talks last month.
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1212573230.html
United Airlines plans to reduce its mainline fleet by another 70 aircraft by the end of 2009 and announce further job cuts, the Wall Street Journal said on Wednesday.
The airline is expected to announce the planned cuts to its fleet of 460 aircraft later on Wednesday, the paper reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The airline will drop 64 Boeing 737s by the end of next year, and also remove six 747s, the paper said.
UAL will also announce additional cuts of salaried and management workers, with cuts of unionized positions to follow later, the paper said.
UAL said in April it would cut 500 salaried and management workers and eliminate 600 union jobs by the end of 2008. It had also said it would cut 30 aircraft.
The newspaper said while the move would help the Chicago-based airline to deal with surging fuel costs, it would result in furloughs of unionized workers and a major reduction in routes that may be less profitable.
The company is also expected to ditch its domestic leisure service Ted, which has 56 Airbus A320 aircraft, and restore first-class cabins in some of those planes, the WSJ said.
United and rival US Airways ended merger talks last month.
http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1212573230.html
Jun 4th, 2008, 05:34 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
United has about 95 A319s and A320s. Most will be parked as well. If I'm reading the article correctly only some of the A320 will be converted back to the mainline by installing first class, not all.
United has 275 B737s, so by retiring 64, it will still be the dominant work horse on domestic routes for United.
It seems to me they are retiring the older 737s.
btw, RyanAir just announced 10% capacity reduction and the major European airlines like BA, Lufthansa and AF/KLM are expected to do the same shortly.
The entire airline industry is feeling the economic pinch. Get ready for a rough ride.
United has 275 B737s, so by retiring 64, it will still be the dominant work horse on domestic routes for United.
It seems to me they are retiring the older 737s.
btw, RyanAir just announced 10% capacity reduction and the major European airlines like BA, Lufthansa and AF/KLM are expected to do the same shortly.
The entire airline industry is feeling the economic pinch. Get ready for a rough ride.
Jun 4th, 2008, 06:20 AM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,415
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think United has something like 95 active 737s, not 275. Those are the ones that will be grounded. I haven't read the releases today, but I don't think they're planning to ground the A320s and A319s...although I don't yet understand how they will proceed with the Ted reconfiguration plans (as an aside, as someone who travels between Chicago and Phoenix a lot, I won't miss Ted).
Jun 4th, 2008, 06:38 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jun 4th, 2008, 06:52 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UA has only about 90 733/5s flying. The stored ones listed on airfleets are 732s that won't be flying anyways. So, they are indeed retiring the whole 737 fleet.
The 735s are fairly new, but have poor economics, which is why Continental is also selling the owned ones and returning the leased ones as fast they can.
UA's 733s are simply old. About 20 years.
Their 319/320s are newer and more efficient that their 733/5 fleet. Simple as that.
The 735s are fairly new, but have poor economics, which is why Continental is also selling the owned ones and returning the leased ones as fast they can.
UA's 733s are simply old. About 20 years.
Their 319/320s are newer and more efficient that their 733/5 fleet. Simple as that.
Jun 4th, 2008, 07:22 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
soccr - About 2/3 of SW's 500+ 737s are newer "Next Generation" 737-700s. And they're continuing to receive them and retire the older 733/5s.
All of UA's 737s are "classics", and they have not ordered any new (read "fuel efficent"
plane or have any to be delivered.
All of UA's 737s are "classics", and they have not ordered any new (read "fuel efficent"
plane or have any to be delivered.
Jun 4th, 2008, 07:24 AM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jun 4th, 2008, 07:33 AM
#14
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No, it is not. That's from March 2003.
Planespotters.net should be correct.
www.planespotters.net/Airline/United-Airlines
64 733
29 735
-----
93
Planespotters.net should be correct.
www.planespotters.net/Airline/United-Airlines
64 733
29 735
-----
93
Jun 5th, 2008, 12:40 AM
#18
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 26,778
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
<i>My guess is big cut at DEN for domestic.</i>
I'm in complete agreement on that. I wouldn't be shocked to see them abandon the DEN hub altogether at some point. In this environment, I just don't see the point in keeping a hub open just to serve domestic flights.
I'm in complete agreement on that. I wouldn't be shocked to see them abandon the DEN hub altogether at some point. In this environment, I just don't see the point in keeping a hub open just to serve domestic flights.
Jun 5th, 2008, 12:43 PM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Announced today that UA will cut nonstop RDU-Denver, in a story that said Denver as a domestic hub is doomed.
Think many airports smaller than Denver are also doomed -- they're saying RDU will lose up to 20% of its flights, across the board (not just UA) by December.
(Those of you who live near NYC or LA and who are always telling us to just fly another airline if we're unhappy, take note.)
Think many airports smaller than Denver are also doomed -- they're saying RDU will lose up to 20% of its flights, across the board (not just UA) by December.
(Those of you who live near NYC or LA and who are always telling us to just fly another airline if we're unhappy, take note.)
Jun 5th, 2008, 01:02 PM
#20
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 23,073
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Losing 20% of its flights is nothing. All the legacy airlines are expected to cut 15-20% of their domestic capacity, and moving to larger, more efficient aircrafts. So, 20% is not bad.
Worse are some airports that may lose <b>all</b> scheduled commercial services - places like Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Bakersfield, etc.
Worse are some airports that may lose <b>all</b> scheduled commercial services - places like Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Bakersfield, etc.
