Originally Posted by
FlyingSlowly
This is a double-hedge. Kirby expects them to relax the scope at UAL. I don't see that happening. The UAL pilot group seems very unified on this issue. But there are still two options on the table:
1) UAL adds another Small Narrow Body (SNB) to their mainline fleet. This 'unlocks' the possibility for more 'regional' 76-seaters. The 175s are then reconfigured as such. Kirby only says that they are to replace the 70-pax CRJ700s in order to hide his true intentions.
2) If UAL's regionals are not able to keep going, these aircraft could (further on down the road) be brought to mainline and flown as 82-pax jets there.
Embraer does charge substantially different prices for its 175 models in different seating configuration. The E175SC (70 seat configuration) is priced to compete with the 700. This is no different strategy than what Embraer deployed when they rolled out the 76 seat configuration against the 900 - it is artificially descoped by around 9,000 pounds in max gross weight, not just the number of seats.
To reconfigure it’s seating configuration (and increased gross weight) actually means paying Embraer for the difference in costs for the upgrade and recertifying the aircraft. It isn’t just a maintenance function to increase the seating capacity.
I believe that Kirby is bringing the E175SC on line because the 700’s are getting old, passengers like the 175 better, and regionals can attract more pilots to fly the 175 than they can to fly the CRJ. I think he is simply recognizing the realities of the hand that the United pilot union is dealing him and rolling with it.
What paragraph of the contract “unlocks” the capacity for 76 seaters by adding another SNB? I missed it.