United to fly last 737 this week
10-28-2009 | 07:14 AM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 382
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From: Le Bus
This sums it up.....
October 28, 2009
To: All Pilots
From: Captain Steve Wallach
Chairman, United Master Executive Council
Re: B-737 Retirement
Dear fellow pilots,
Today, United Airlines is celebrating the last flight of the B-737s. While most of us have flown the B-737 and have our own stories to relish, most pilots are looking at its retirement with trepidation. Pilots have an affinity with airplanes that no one other than a pilot can understand. It is difficult to explain to anyone those feelings.
When United was a leader among airlines, it was the first to receive the B-727, the B-767-200, the B-777-200, and yes, the B-737-200. It created Shuttle by United which was a Southwest-styled airline that utilized the B-737 for short turns, lots of flying and landings, and homogenized schedules with pilots and flight attendants. The employees were enthusiastic and working for the Shuttle was fun. Eventually, United’s enthusiasm wore off, the employees saw the Shuttle morph back under Mainline’s philosophy and rules and that eventually doomed the Shuttle.
The B-737 is the world’s most popular and best selling commercial jet in history, and with more than 7,000 orders, it will continue to be so. Southwest took initial deliveries of the -300, -500, and -700s. Alaska Airlines was the launch customer for the B-737-900 and Boeing is building a 900ER. So why did United decide to ground the last of its B-737s? United made its decision in June 2008 when fuel was near its peak at $140 per barrel. Today, fuel is just over $79 per barrel. Furthermore, United has now created for itself a 70-120 gap in aircraft seats. The retirement of the B-737 with no replacements planned has directly contributed to the loss of 1,450 pilots and impacted their families and countless number of other United employees. We shouldn’t consider this a day of celebration.
In a letter earlier this month to Mr. John Tague, President of United Airlines, I responded to United’s insensitive messages to our pilots inviting them to join in this exciting day of festivities. “Ordinarily, pilots enjoy the celebratory mood associated with retirements of aircraft, marking the transition between generations of aircraft. Pilots’ attachment and sentimentality over airplanes run deeper than you could ever imagine. However, in this case, there is no transition to be excited about. Instead of having a replacement for the B-737, this fleet has been thrown to the scrapheap along with 1,450 pilot jobs. The Company’s jocular message of retiring them ‘in the sunny desert of California’ falls on deaf ears when the pilots consider its ramifications.”
This is not a transition but a further erosion of United Airlines’ history. Mr. Tague dismissed my concerns stating, “Recent capacity reductions are an inevitable outcome as we work to overcome unprecedented challenges. The job losses across our industry are indeed regrettable.” But the celebrations continue. Unfortunately, the furloughed pilots of United Airlines were not invited.
In Unity,
Captain Steve Wallach
To: All Pilots
From: Captain Steve Wallach
Chairman, United Master Executive Council
Re: B-737 Retirement
Dear fellow pilots,
Today, United Airlines is celebrating the last flight of the B-737s. While most of us have flown the B-737 and have our own stories to relish, most pilots are looking at its retirement with trepidation. Pilots have an affinity with airplanes that no one other than a pilot can understand. It is difficult to explain to anyone those feelings.
When United was a leader among airlines, it was the first to receive the B-727, the B-767-200, the B-777-200, and yes, the B-737-200. It created Shuttle by United which was a Southwest-styled airline that utilized the B-737 for short turns, lots of flying and landings, and homogenized schedules with pilots and flight attendants. The employees were enthusiastic and working for the Shuttle was fun. Eventually, United’s enthusiasm wore off, the employees saw the Shuttle morph back under Mainline’s philosophy and rules and that eventually doomed the Shuttle.
The B-737 is the world’s most popular and best selling commercial jet in history, and with more than 7,000 orders, it will continue to be so. Southwest took initial deliveries of the -300, -500, and -700s. Alaska Airlines was the launch customer for the B-737-900 and Boeing is building a 900ER. So why did United decide to ground the last of its B-737s? United made its decision in June 2008 when fuel was near its peak at $140 per barrel. Today, fuel is just over $79 per barrel. Furthermore, United has now created for itself a 70-120 gap in aircraft seats. The retirement of the B-737 with no replacements planned has directly contributed to the loss of 1,450 pilots and impacted their families and countless number of other United employees. We shouldn’t consider this a day of celebration.
In a letter earlier this month to Mr. John Tague, President of United Airlines, I responded to United’s insensitive messages to our pilots inviting them to join in this exciting day of festivities. “Ordinarily, pilots enjoy the celebratory mood associated with retirements of aircraft, marking the transition between generations of aircraft. Pilots’ attachment and sentimentality over airplanes run deeper than you could ever imagine. However, in this case, there is no transition to be excited about. Instead of having a replacement for the B-737, this fleet has been thrown to the scrapheap along with 1,450 pilot jobs. The Company’s jocular message of retiring them ‘in the sunny desert of California’ falls on deaf ears when the pilots consider its ramifications.”
This is not a transition but a further erosion of United Airlines’ history. Mr. Tague dismissed my concerns stating, “Recent capacity reductions are an inevitable outcome as we work to overcome unprecedented challenges. The job losses across our industry are indeed regrettable.” But the celebrations continue. Unfortunately, the furloughed pilots of United Airlines were not invited.
In Unity,
Captain Steve Wallach
10-28-2009 | 09:08 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,306
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From: 767 Cap
10-28-2009 | 11:21 AM
#15
Moderate Moderator
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,681
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From: Curator at Static Display
Ironic Omissions
It is sad to see the Guppy go, even though I never flew them. I'm at least grateful the Company acknowleges the passing of a legacy.
However, in the months just prior to and after 9/11, UAL retired:
75 B-727-200s
3 747-100s
4 DC-10s
25 737-200s
I don't remember any fanfare for them.
A very sad state of affairs. We're that much closer to being an international-only airline, with all domestic service provided by regionals.
However, in the months just prior to and after 9/11, UAL retired:
75 B-727-200s
3 747-100s
4 DC-10s
25 737-200s
I don't remember any fanfare for them.
A very sad state of affairs. We're that much closer to being an international-only airline, with all domestic service provided by regionals.
10-28-2009 | 11:27 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,576
Likes: 0
From: 737 CA
I flew the 900ER as a Captain. It's basically a 757 that's lower to the ground and with almost 1/2 the thrust. But it makes money.
Due to less power and tail strike issues, you fly really fast off and on the runway. I'd rather be in the 757.
10-28-2009 | 12:07 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 281
Likes: 0
From: Furloughed
Sounds like with codesharing, the star alliance, and things like that aer lingus deal, theyre working on making united's international ops outsourced too...
10-28-2009 | 01:36 PM
#18
Line Holder
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Here, there and now here again
Sad day that the 737 in United colors is going away. Even sadder for the jobs lost associated with its retirement. Just my .02, well .00457 @ today's market close. Happy Hump Day all. Take care and KEEP SMILING!!
10-28-2009 | 05:58 PM
#20
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
It is sad to see the Guppy go, even though I never flew them. I'm at least grateful the Company acknowleges the passing of a legacy.
However, in the months just prior to and after 9/11, UAL retired:
75 B-727-200s
3 747-100s
4 DC-10s
25 737-200s
I don't remember any fanfare for them.
A very sad state of affairs. We're that much closer to being an international-only airline, with all domestic service provided by regionals.
However, in the months just prior to and after 9/11, UAL retired:
75 B-727-200s
3 747-100s
4 DC-10s
25 737-200s
I don't remember any fanfare for them.
A very sad state of affairs. We're that much closer to being an international-only airline, with all domestic service provided by regionals.
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