Originally Posted by
dovic91
Prior to COVID, United was doubling down on the 50 seaters, especially the 145s. They were getting new paint, cabin refreshes, and even wifi. XJT was told the only limitation to increased 145 flying at that point was their ability to hire and retain pilots. All of XJT's old 145s (and TSA's) are now on the C5 certificate. How many actually get operated is the question, but I'm betting there will be 80-100 total in operation by late summer. Maybe that only lasts for a few years, but it's a doubling or tripling in size for C5.
They were also in contract talks and pushing hard for more 175’s without buying another fleet type, but the union held their ground. Kirby wants more rj’s, the union doesn’t, and both are in the fight for the long haul, so putting some lipstick on a pig was his only remaining option. The one thing that doesn’t change is that as our competition moves to bigger planes and the 50 seat fleet ages and grows more unpopular with our customers, they are nearing the end of their service life with United. Kirby has one contractual option to get more 70/76 seaters. That option would increase the number of United aircraft while decreasing the total number of UAX aircraft and significantly reduce the allowable percentage of NB block that UAX can fly. The other option is to let the 50 seaters age out and replace all of that flying with United pilots. The ball is in Kirby’s court.
As far as C5 goes in the short term, I’d agree that they will be flying more jets than they were. Unless United decides to spread the 70/76 seaters and the 550’s around rather than concentrate them at the larger companies already operating them, I’d expect the airlines that only operate single class 50 seaters to be gone within 5 years.