Piedmont and AWAC just got screwed!!!!!!
 

US Airways Announces Slot Transaction with Delta Air Lines

Transaction Highlights:

* US Airways will obtain 42 pairs of slots (roundtrip flights) at Washington, D.C.’s Reagan National Airport and will acquire the rights to expand to Sao Paulo and Tokyo.
* US Airways will transfer to Delta 125 pairs of slots currently used to provide US Airways Express service at LaGuardia.
* US Airways will maintain a significant presence at LaGuardia Airport including the popular, business-friendly US Airways Shuttle. No changes are planned for US Airways’ mainline flight levels at LaGuardia.
* US Airways expects the transaction to improve its profitability by more than $75 million annually.


TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--US Airways (NYSE: LCC - News) today announced a transaction with Delta Air Lines that will allow US Airways to expand service at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and enter key business centers in Brazil and Japan. US Airways will obtain 42 pairs of Delta’s slots at DCA and acquire the rights to expand to Tokyo, Japan and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Simultaneously, US Airways will transfer 125 pairs of its slots to Delta at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA). One slot equals one takeoff or landing; so one pair of slots equals one roundtrip flight.

US Airways will retain a significant presence at LGA. The reduction in flying necessitated by the transfer of LGA slots will be accomplished through reductions in US Airways Express flying. The airline does not plan to make any changes to mainline flight levels, including its popular US Airways Shuttle service with hourly flights from New York to Boston and Washington. After the transaction is complete, US Airways will be the third largest carrier at LGA (based on peak day departures) and will operate up to 72 peak-day flights.

“We are very excited about today's announcement which presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen our network while bringing more jet air service to smaller communities from our nation's capital," said US Airways Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. "This transaction will improve US Airways’ near and long-term profitability to the benefit of our employees, our customers, the communities we serve, and our shareholders.”
The transaction is structured as two simultaneous asset sales and is expected to be cash neutral to US Airways. US Airways estimates the transaction will improve profitability by more than $75 million annually.

Washington, D.C.
“This is great news for travelers to and from the Washington, D.C. region,” said US Airways Senior Vice President, Marketing and Planning Andrew Nocella. “After the transaction is complete, US Airways will provide nonstop service from DCA to 15 new daily destinations, and to further ensure continuity for air travelers, we also plan to maintain existing service today to all DCA destinations that Delta may discontinue as a result of this transaction.”

The 15 new destinations US Airways will serve from DCA after this transaction include seven markets that currently have service to/from DCA today (Cincinnati, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Madison, Wis.; Montreal, Canada; Miami, Fla.; and Ottawa, Canada), as well as eight cities that currently have no daily nonstop service to/from DCA at this time (Birmingham, Ala.; Islip, N.Y.; Ithaca, N.Y.; Little Rock, Ark.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Pensacola, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; and Tallahassee, Fla.).

Nocella continued, "We also plan to increase the number of seats we fly at DCA by using larger dual-class jets. This will increase capacity in a dense market, where demand continues to be brisk, without the negative effects of additional congestion."

US Airways will operate 229 peak-day departures at DCA. Following full implementation of the new schedule, the airline anticipates its passenger enplanements at DCA will increase by 30 to 35 percent as a result of the new flights and use of larger aircraft. However, there will be no increase in net flight activity at DCA due to Delta’s reduction in slots.
US Airways’ expanded presence at DCA will create approximately 100 new US Airways jobs that will be allocated to DCA and throughout the new regions where the airline is starting service.

Access to Sao Paulo and Tokyo
US Airways will also acquire from Delta the rights to operate daily service at two of the world’s most important business destinations – Sao Paulo, Brazil and Tokyo, Japan. These two cities will complement US Airways’ existing portfolio of more than 50 international destinations in more than 30 countries and territories across Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean.

Nocella elaborated on the carrier’s anticipated access to those markets, “Sao Paulo and Tokyo will bolster our international growth plans for South America and Asia, and this transaction provides a unique opportunity to expand into two prominent international business markets where US Airways would otherwise not be able to operate.”

With today’s transaction, US Airways has acquired the rights to serve Sao Paulo; and anticipates starting service to Sao Paulo in the second half of next year. The airline’s plan to begin daily Charlotte-Rio de Janeiro service this December remains unchanged. US Airways will be working with governmental authorities in both countries to assist it in securing additional authority to permit daily flights between Charlotte and both Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The Tokyo service is tentatively scheduled to operate from US Airways’ Phoenix hub using Airbus 330-200 aircraft. It will require various government approvals and will be contingent upon economic conditions at the time. The airline does not anticipate starting Tokyo service until 2012 or later.

LaGuardia
US Airways will maintain a significant operation at LGA and plans to operate up to 72 peak-day flights, making it the airport’s third largest carrier (based on peak day departures). Mainline flight levels will not be reduced, and the airline will continue to operate its popular US Airways Shuttle with hourly service to Washington, D.C. and Boston, as well as service to Charlotte and Wilmington, N.C. and Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, Penn.

US Airways Shuttle at LGA will operate out of the Marine Air Terminal while service to Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Wilmington will operate from terminal D. The move to the Marine Air Terminal is expected to occur in early 2010, and US Airways intends to make enhancements to meet the needs of Shuttle customers.

With 125 fewer slot pairs at LGA, US Airways plans to discontinue service to 26 Express destinations served from LGA. In a separate announcement made earlier today, Delta Air Lines communicated its intent with regard to the 125 slot pairs transferred to it by US Airways.

The reduction in Express flying at LGA will result in the need for approximately 300 fewer employees at US Airways’ wholly owned regional carrier, Piedmont Airlines. Piedmont CEO Steve Farrow said, "While this is good news for our parent company, US Airways, it is very disappointing news for the Piedmont team. Our employees have done an excellent job of providing service to US Airways and its customers. We understand the need to optimize assets, though, and we will ensure that all affected Piedmont employees are treated fairly."

This is going to impact our operations heavily. I can only imagine what will stem from this...bad times ahead for both of us..

It looks like Colgan will get the beat downs as well, unless all those Saabs go to BOS.

It is great that Airways wants to grow in DCA, but I see no mention of new gate space there. And I think we know how hard it can be to get a gate in DCA as it is. If Airways wants to build a stronger customer base in DCA, they are going to have to do something about the Commuter World. Passengers hate being crowded into the gate 35 area, listening for their flight among the 15 that are boarding nearly simultaneously, with announcements made in the most unclear strains of English imaginable (except for those by Wally, the game show host). It seems like the new destinations out of DCA are asking for RJ service, which means more congestion. And, unless more gate space is acquired, Airways won't be able to just add mainline flights.

This will be interesting. I do hate to see anything bad happen to the AWAC guys. You have tried your best to stay afloat without cutting your own throats, and you continue to get thrown around the system. I don't see where Airways could fit the displaced RJ and prop aircraft coming from LGA. DCA is pretty full, CLT is full, Philly is full, PIT is open but of no interest to Airways, and I have no idea what PHX is like. Maybe those CRJs and Dash 8's could end up replacing Mesa in 2010, when their exclusivity in PHX expires.

Airways should cut ties with RAH, let them go take their 170/5's to Hawaii and have fun. Give true feed back a regional...AWAC. But Doug wont. People think they're flying on a real jet, only problem is the FO is making $23.00. Haha.

Disclaimer: I just posted this on the AWAC site for our guys, I'm trying to see what a larger audience thinks. Thanks.

Ok, someone correct me if I'm wrong. Right now we (AWAC) have a contract with Big Mama A that states we have to fly a certain amount of hours for a certain amount of time, correct? Also we know that Mesa has exclusive rights on all express flying in PHX till 2010. We know that PSA has a strong hold on CLT and we have DCA and PHL pretty much covered. And we know that Piedmont is losing aircraft (sucks for them). Ok, this is how I kinda see things working out. We are going to lose ORF and RDU (sorry guys, but it just doesn't look like Mama Airways wants/need that much lift from those two cities). This maybe a bit of a stretch, but I think we'll keep PHL and DCA (which might be smaller or remain basically the same, I don't think we'll lose the gates at DCA, that area can't really support anything much better then what is out there right now). I think Mesa stands to lose from this; I personally think we'll have a PHX base by February. Piedmont would be left out in the cold, they have no new aircraft on order and are losing A/C. But I'm just a lowly FO that doesn't know much, we'll see how it works out. The worst part is the Piedmont guys stand to lose, which sucks because they are a decent little airline and they always seem to get the short end of the stick. The only problem I see with all this, where does Colgan fit in with the Slaabs? Will they just go back to BOS and let them slowly phase out? I can't quite figure out what they are going to do.

Didn't the release state that some of the flying would be mainline and also "dual class" flying. I just question how much of this flying would be AWaC and PDT when it sounds like E190 and Republic to me.

My 2 cents

Right I understand that, however it also states that any cities that are dropped by Delta will be picked up by Airways, so that leaves the door open for all the places that used to be served by Delta.

Average FO at RW makes 36. A whole $2 less then a 2year+fo at AWAC. Same job, same responsibility. If you honestly feel a crj is more comfortable than a e-jet you are exactly the troll you portray yourself to be with comments like the one above.

I believe all express flights are single class. So no Republic or Mesa with Large RJ's. So it sounds like like mainline will be doing the flying.

More so mainline flights. The express operations I see being CRJ700/200. The routes are currently covered by DAL with CRJ200 (Comair to be exact). And I do not see those routes being full with anything with more then 70 seats. The other slots (42-15 so 27) would be mainline flights with Cabin Class. At the end of the day this is great news for anyone who wants to progress in this career. Unfortunately it sucks right now for us. The more mainline flights, the better jobs are open and the more money and QOL you can have. I think you will see AWAC doing many of the new routes of DCA along with PSA doing some of the ones in the south (Little Rock, BHM out of DCA etc). AWAC doing the midwest ones (Madison etc).


ps... A lot of these current routes from DCA to places like GRR, MSN, DSM are all flown only once a day and by Pinnacle in a CRJ200. So I DOUBT we would see Usairways fly anything larger on the same routes. So a transition of AWAC perhaps. Although its great news for TLH. Right now all TLH-CLT flights are at 70 and with non revs its impossible. Although did I read this right, Miami-DCA? American already does that route. Seems weird?

New service from dca not currently serviced by other airlines : LIT ISP ITH BHM SAV MYR PNS TLH

new service with Usair that is currently served by other airlines : CVG DSM GRR MSN YUL MIA YOW

yes I agree with this!

Meyers9163 I think is spot on. I think most of the "new" cities will be picked up by AWAC and it'll be a wash on the level of our current flying.

Still Grounded-It's not only sad that we make more flying a much smaller aircraft, it's also our work rules, which makes yours look silly, it's our trip and duty rigs, our higher per diem, CX and MX cancellation pay, our higher 401k match, get the idea? Yeah, we have a much better contract, which is still a concessionary contract, then your current contract. My current roomate is a RW FO and I bring home a healthy margin more then him, so it's not all about straight pay rates. But you guys get to fly a "big jet". Have fun.

Who cares about comfort on a flight that if flown by an express should be less then 2 hours? They are paying to get from point A to point B to connect and thus its an express flight. Go fly that big ole Ejet that yes is more comfy, but I could not care less about how my paxs feeling. I rather know I am getting paid a fair rate for what i do and have proper work rules. But guess you will have that in the E190???

"but I could not care less about how my paxs feeling."

Nice. Who do you think is ultimately paying your salary?

I don't really think that is what he was trying to say. I'm sure that the point was that a pilot should be much more concerned with fair pay and work rules than how comfy the guy back in seat 12A is at the moment.

I don't think it takes a genius to realize that flying a 76-86 seat airplane should mean bringing home more money than flying a 50 seater. :rolleyes:

Doug's right, the people are probably very thankful they're on a comfortable erj and not squished into the back of your Boeing regional jet.

Don't feed idiocy.

i kind of find this funny that you are all arguing over pay rates, routes, and my tin can is more comfy than your tin can. this is the second hub operation airways has cut in a little more than a month. what happens in the beginning of september? airways sells its boston operation to south west? how long do you think the dca operation will exist or the clt and philly?

You really are kidding right? Lets see, they cut RJ flying, which we all know is the least efficient, highest cost flying there is. They are KEEPING a relatively large presence there in LGA I.E. the shuttle flying that makes them money hand over fist. They are going to DOMINATE in DCA which has some of the highest ticket prices, plus a strong, healthy city to support it. Also they gain some more international route authority, so what's the downside? Lets see, dumping LGA express flights, which affects their on-time performance numbers, gain an even stronger presence in DCA, and get a couple good, high profit margin routes, which they need. Yeah, don't worry, I honestly think airways will be fine.

I didn't know LGA was a hub for them. This could be good news for Airways and solidify their position in DCA in addition to getting more money making international flying. What was the other hub they closed?

What was the other hub that closed within month. PIT closed last year sometime I believe.

My airline is better than your airline.

I make more than you.

My roommate makes less than me.

My pax are more comfortable than yours.

My airplane is better than yours.

You fly more mainline looking routes than me.

Equals => I’m just jealous and scared for my job.

Way to go off topic drama queens… keep it up because that’s exactly what management wants. What are you, 12?

This new airline legislation should contain a new ATP requirement... maturity.

Well put. Bickering is useless

Because the way it currently sits the new ATP requirement is only a requrement to hold an ATP regardless of aircraft it is in. AND because of that it would make one mature? An ATP in a Seminole or GA plane is a joke and this current legislation would allow it.

You just have to bicker about something, don't you? Since you didn't get the sarcasm... here you go:

What should be a modified phrase in the ATP requirement: "Be of good moral character and display a significant amount of maturity."

And or thinks that make sense are always great. Things that are stupid I much rather not waste my time on. And thus I lost about 10 seconds of my life on your last post, that ended with a comment that took 10 seconds of my life I will not get back ;)!

Could we get back to the original topic please....

In lieu of actual, concrete information, it's much easier just to compare each other to Hitler. No?

Has anyone at AWAC or PDT received any sort of communication from their companies about how this ends up impacting their respective operations? Seems like the news has been out long enough for something at least marginally credible to be out there.

You win the argument, since you mentioned Hitler.

Don't know much about Delta's system, why would they want more in LGA?

Piedmont shutting down the ground handling after the transfer is completed and the crew base by mid 2010 at the latest that is from Farrow.

Also they are reducing LAS which means my dad has to go to PHX now or retire.

Well said, It gets old listening to the same people cry about a couple bucks an hour when we are all grossly underpaid. It isn't like your making history raising the bar over there at Air Whiskey or whatever "better regional", if there is even such a thing, you are flying at. They are all crap and we all need to fight for better work rules and wages.

But keep raising the bar over there Air Wisconsin or PSA and pointing the finger, who knows maybe one day ill build up enough experience to get a job over there and then I can finally have a stable career type job that I feel comfortable retiring at.
:eek: <sarcasm if you didn't notice>

Gee I hate to say it, but look at our contract, AWAC has brought the bar up. Our contract is better then most in the industry, mainline or regional. We do have guys who retire from whisky. It'd be nice to get the old one back, but whatever. As far as the company, they haven't released a single thing, they seem to pretty blindsided by this all too.

Im sure its all roses and rainbows over at Air Whiskey but you should realize that pointing fingers at other airlines and arguing about which "regional" is better is pointless. RAH is in contract negotiations and once it is signed it will be better than Air Whiskeys, a couple years will go by and Air Whiskey will draft another one and it very well may be better and the cycle will continue. Its time to stop pointing fingers and start worryin about the problems in your own backyard. If we all took care of our own problems and stopped worrying about how this regional compares to that is when we can start making serious progress. Good luck to all the Airways carriers that will be affected by this. I don't think its gonna be good short term for anyone. If anything, in the long run it will bring more jobs back to mainline where they belong. :)

I suspect the upper, upper management at AWAC knew about this for the past few days. But they still don't know enough to make a real statement about it.

I know I won't miss LGA!!!

But I can also say that I feel bad for anyone who loses in this deal and there are likely to be losers among the US Airways Express flyers.

Ineed! And that at the end of the day is what we all should be happy about. Even if in the short term, our airline(s) get hosed over because of this. I highly doubt many of us got into the career thinking, "Man I'd really love to retire at RAH/AWAC/PDT/COLGAN."

I hope the recent AWAC recalls don't get put back on the street because of this. I wish you gentlemen the best of luck.

I would hope AWAC would not do a knee jerk reaction like this. These reductions wont happen until Mid/late 2010. With that, I would think AWAC had a SLIGHT clue that this was going to happen. Rumors have been floating around for a long while.

Yes, but AWAC pilots fly nothing larger then CRJ-200's. The same CANNOT be said for RAH/SA pilots.

As much respect as I have for the AWAC pilot group there are only 200 guys left on the property that were actually hired under the old contract. Everyone hired after AUG 2003 were hired under the current contract which is a concessionary one...no one fought for it, they fought against it.

For being a concessionary one it's pretty kick a.ss, but it amazes me how many relatively new people to the company talk about how "they brought the bar up".

Bullsh*t!

I will give you credit for choosing a company that had a quality contract at the time you were hired, but the credit goes to the guys that have been constantly getting sh*t on for the last 6 years.

The Amigos always land on their feet. Lets hope they keep the streak going. It's a great pilot group.

This will hurt Colgan quite a bit also considering we have a good amount of flying into LGA. Not sure what they will do with the planes flying in there now. Boston is not an option and neither is DC. Looks like a reduction with the Saabs is in the future for Colgan. The Saabs are getting old anyways and a major AD is coming up. Guess we will all end up on the Q400 sooner than later. EWR, here I come.