KSCessnaDriver

First off, the Empire Builder will once again be a daily train, thanks to Congress. Secondly, while passenger rail may not be super efficient, rail is without a doubt the most efficient way to move things in this country

rickair7777

Generally, airliners vs. car is about a wash on fuel/carbon for a given trip assuming...

1) Traditional IC engine car
2) One pax (driver)
3) Reasonably full plane

If you add additional people to the trip, the car is more efficient. Also hybrid/battery cars are more efficient. An empty plane is not efficient.

A 50-seat RJ is somewhat less efficient than a NB. WB's are more efficient than a NB, although you'd have to compare those to a boat, not a car.

The kicker of course is the time factor. Many, probably the majority, of RJ routes (especially 50-seat) can be driven in a day or less. The real advantage to a lot of short-haul RJ service may be the small-town airport environment... park next to the terminal, walk in, breeze through TSA. A lot of people pay for the RJ connector just to avoid driving, parking, and TSA at the hub. My parents are about a 2-hour drive from the hub, and that's what they prefer. When frequency gets cut (it seems to come and go at their town), they'll drive rather than spend five hours of airport appreciation waiting for their connection. I do the same when I visit, rent and drive the last leg if the connection time is excessive. In the turboprop era there was a flight every couple hours, basically a small prop-job flew back and forth all day.

TransWorld

Spirit ordered in 2020. They almost all of the worldwide current A319 orders outstanding. As A320 and A321 order deliveries resume in earnest, they will be less likely to push A319 which is on the same production lines and be more inclined to push the A220. That is what has happened for several years before.

Excargodog

Both aircraft are somewhat comparable, although the 319 NEO is somewhat longer ranged and larger. I believe the 220 is a cheaper acquisition cost.

As someone who used to do logistics, I think most airlines who don’t already have A320 family aircraft will prefer the A220. But those with existing A320 family aircraft may well prefer the A319 NEO due to parts and training commonality with the other aircraft - NK as an example. If you already have typed pilots, sims, and spares suitable to a 319 NEO, the incremental cost of just going with the somewhat smaller and shorter ranged 220 may well offset the cheaper price tag. And list prices for new aircraft have always been written in smoke - even before COVID. And the fact that the 319 is on the same production line as the other 320s is a feature, not a glitch, for Airbus. They enjoy the same training, machinery, and parts economies as well as economy of scale.

And the upcoming stretch models of the 220 may cost as much as a 319NEO in any event. Time will tell.

Cyio

Have to agree here. I can’t imagine a single fleet type company bringing in another fleet just for the sake of doing it. Even if the 319 is slightly more money, it will save them in the long run.

It’s like SWA saying they go with the 220, it was all smoke and mirrors. No way would they bring a new fleet and all the costs associated with it.

highfarfast

Some Jetblue guy should come in here and discuss. I think I've read some discussion about Jetblue replacing their 190s with 220s. If logistics were that simple, 319neo would be the obvious choice.

Otherwise, I agree with the point.

TransWorld

Delta has lots of A319, A320, and A321 metal. Yet they ordered many A220 metal, not more A319 metal. That seems to run counter to your theory.

JetBlue has lots of A320 and A321. Yet they are replacing all their E190s with A220, not any A319s. That seems to run counter to your theory.

Excargodog

I’m not responsible for the business dealings of Delta or Jet Blue. A319s have about 95% parts commonality with 320s. Delta has some of the oldest 319s and 320s flying, but they have 100 321s on order so it’s unlikely they will be getting out of the 320 family business. Same for JetBlue. What sort of a deal they got to go with A220s I have no idea. Apparently they either didn’t want to upfront the greater list price for the 319 or it just fit their planned routes better. It clearly is a cheaper aircraft than the 319NEO.

pangolin

That covers UA. I Does the LOA remain with cares money incoming?

What about AA and Delta?

Hedley

I don’t know about American or Delta. The only thing that changes at United with the cares money is the reduced work lines can’t be utilized, and we can’t furlough in June as originally allowed by the agreement. As long as the LOA is in effect, UAX block hours will be restricted to less than 100% UAL NB block on a monthly basis (no 12 month rolling average) and the planes have to stay at 70 seats. When the LOA expires, things go back to the way that they were before.