Arado 234

Could it be a strategy to get a better deal from Embraer (190E2) or Bombardier (CS100/300)? Management is really inconsistent with their statements, one day XXX is great, the following day XXX is the worst thing ever.

Name User

I'm still confused why they are keeping the A350 and 787, one would think they'd pick one and stick with it.

Also surprised they'd keep the 330-200s after getting rid of the -300's.

I'm a big fan of consolidation of the fleet types but going down isn't something I like to see.

Arado 234

Didn't US order A350-800s and A350-900? That *might* explain it. I still want to know what type will fill the blank spot between the E175 and the A319. Or if ...

Saabs

Is this without parking any 320s? Those are gonna be going bye bye sooner rather than later.

Al Czervik

That's what's been announced with deliveries and the new retirements.

Saabs

Gotcha. Thanks for doing that. I bet with 757 and 320s being parked we are much much smaller than that.

Rivit

Where are all of the company cheerleaders?
Now practically everything will be at group II Pay rates...
Going for great. No, we will never be anything close to that.

Al Czervik

Getting rid of group 1 for group 2 planes. Losing group 3 adding group 2. Adding group 4. Think it may be an overall increase.

80ktsClamp

Route66

It wasn't a surprise. Parker already spilled the beans one or two crew news ago. Secondly, when US Air and Piedmont merged, there were 11-12 different aircraft types that should have been reconciled almost immediately and were not. It became a very high cost item for the merged airline to not integrate the fleet plan sooner.

However, the 190 all have major inspections due and the cost as opposed to having A319 with just a few seats more is the better choice to reconcile the fleet. The 190 has ARINC busses instead of the standard airline avionics suite of equipment which makes them the odd man out. I like the idea of ARINC busses but they use ARINC usually on Corporate aircraft and not the Airlines. I call them "blade servers" due to their circuit board interchangeability. I like the idea but those of you who fly the E170/175/190 class of aircraft know the quirks associated with the EMB.

Having both "classes" of Airbus and Boeing is much along the strategy of SWA. In fact, SWA is having "growth" problems for international because they can't get the big aircraft and they can't get the international slots. Maybe Yet Blue or Frontier want the 190? Who knows but the 333 needs to go because it is too short legged for the routes and flexibility we need it to fly. Plus they are old and have been rode hard. Like the 767 its time to move on.

They are making very sound decisions about this. It is the 21st century after all. Consider this (out of our hands anyway) a positive for the new hires who don't have to work for the crappy substandard wage the APA negotiated for the 190 and they can get into the Group II aircraft where the pay is better and its where they belong.