RA continued:

JFK - plan is agreed to for T4.... need to buy out 2 of the 3 owners and get port authority financing. we will extend the piers out into where the remote parking is now. renovate terminal 2? build bridge. I missed part of that.
This plan can be acted on as soon as 3-4 months.
RJ's will be changed to 70 and 76 seaters.. minimize 50 seaters.


Along with aircraft IFE and winglet enhancements, Front end IT will be improved drastically in 2010.... kiosks, res, and airports above and below wing.


2010 DL will put tremendous focus on A0 as opposed to D0. Misconnects **** passengers off more than anything... will put large investment into ensuring a/c get into the gates on time.

We will try to save fuel whenever possible, but being on time is much more important. RA would prefer that the cost index be solely at the discretion of the CA and dispatcher to preserve on time.


787- boeing is a ship without a rudder... no update to him since 2008. No clue when it's going to fly or where the program is going. sounded quite frustrated and concerned with how much weight they are having to add to the plane....


100 seat issue- Boeing and Airbus are dabbling in widebodies with no interest in narrowbodies... poor decision. We ideally need a 110-112 seater that can fly without any restriction 1200 miles.... 750 ideal stage length. ERJ190 is too small for this, but the closest current product.
C-series- the engine is very questionable, RA has been very dissapointed with Pratt 2000 series gearings and doesn't think pratt will have a reliable GTF. Will NOT be the launch customer for it.

--- that being said, as 9's come off line, China Eastern MD90's, although larger, will be the optimum 9 replacement until someone gets their butts in gear.


RAH/F9/Midex- We have a legal obligation to continue to honor their contract. They will likely keep the operations very separate. RAh didn't have to pay anything to get those two airlines, they were simply the largest claimholders in BK.


OH will shift back to CVG... shuttle america will shift to JFK.


JAL- we have a small amount of Origin traffic out of japan. expanded distribution in asia is critical in gaining a larger market share.


question about usair and ual:
USair has no access to capital- just selling equities, however they have minimal debt maturities
UAL- they are through the hard part, but dont have financing access except at very very high rates.

We are not counting any carrier out in the future- not planning the operation around anyone failing. We will watch closely and use our high cash position to snatch up slots as they come availble with others pulling back.


question about 744-

it is in the permanent fleet plan- 11 will be flying in 2010, planning to stay with 16 total. Others will be in mod or CRAF flying.




My hands are tired and mythbusters is on... enjoy!

Well, I have to say now that's hard core latest and greatest and you got us over the 16,000 posts mark Mr. 80kts Clap, good job.

Do I get like an internet high five or something for that? :)

Alright inevitable questions, no big moves until fall 2010 as far as equipment and bases, SO... the 764 JFK flying will be done with ATL crews (my word the Roosevelt will be packed), DC9s to ATL and 88s back to NYC, so doesn't all this deadheading really bring to fruition the talk that we needed every pilot we had post SOC until fall of 2010?

And if fall of 2010 is in the midst of a slow U in the economy, does that buy us junior guys more time?

And how in the hell is Boeing not giving updates in over a year+ on the 787 to a CEO who has them on order? And in light of the conversation earlier on the Cseries and E195, interesting to hear what they have to say and specifically on the E195. It bolsters the rumor that we wanted short term leases (I think we wanted 5 or 10 years, can't remember) to fill the gap until Boeing or Airbus had new narrowbodies but Embraer wouldn't budge (wanted double I think?) and thus no new 100-120 seat jet on property.

And its interesting about using cash to buy up key assets as they become available, like slots. Glad to be at an airline with cash and people willing to use it to beat others while they're down.

Interesting move on the 747s and no talk about 777s? We're becoming NWA, keep the old stuff cuz it works long time and will be paid for for long time. So if we're going to overfly NRT, will that be out of DTW? And if 747s are going out over the Atlantic does that mean the 777 will be doing the overflying?

And commuting Captains behold, RA wants you in charge of that cost index. 200 here we come! Of course, you land early in ATL, like 5 minutes early, you wait for gate.

After your hand recovers, yes you do. Now, are your eyes fuzzy? Does this baby blue screen drive you batty now?

Just wondering if they had a stop watch on how long it'd take from meeting to the internet?

80Knots

Thanks for the update, you rock

It's funny how you need three or four accounts to completely parse what was said....

Cheers
George

Sadly, Boeing is simply metering the bad news...
the first six are already written off.

5-7 years from now the 787-900 will be a very nice ride.

Cheers
George

1 and 2. lots of deadheads next year! they want to wait until the dust settles. It sounded like they are going to keep the extra staffing partly for that and partly to allow the airline to expand as the economy recovers. As an FNG, I liked hearing that... and that crowd had less than 5 FNG's.

3. It sounds like boeing has screwed the pooch. I think RA is rightfully ticked about being dropped with yet another launch customer dud. That fit nicely with his attitude on the C-series. It sounds like they'd be very happy just using the 90's in the 9 markets.... economics aren't really that much different with the much more efficient engines and very small acquisition costs.

4. The whales/777s/fleet renewal- this reminded me exactly of his strategy at nwa, which was extremely successful. I'm ok with older jets, but nice renewed interiors. Overflights of NRT would be some out of DTW and some out of SEA. Announcements to come.


behold the internet high five. All nerdiness shall resound among the heavens.

Kudos Clamp, thanks for the update! hip, hip,...

....horay, Clamp! Thanks. :D