Curiosity got the better of me, and the SEC filings are still available that far back.
On July 2, 1998, US announced that it had ordered "up to" 30 A330-300's - including 7 firm orders, 7 orders to be reconfirmed, and 16 options. The first of the firm orders was to be delivered in the 4th quarter of 1999 and the 6 remaining firm orders delivered in 2000. Orders to be reconfirmed were for 2001 delivery.
Per the 1999 Annual Report, delivery was delayed and the first A330-300 was to enter service in the 2nd quarter of 2000 instead of the 4th quarter of 1999. Also, the original order had been changed to 10 firm orders, 4 subject to reconfirmation, and the 16 options.
Per the 2000 Annual Report, US had 6 A330-300's at the end of the year and only had 4 more A330's on firm order, with options for 20 more (still with the ability to substitued other Airbus widebody aircraft for the A330-300).
Per the 2001 Annual Report, US had 9 A330-300's. The one remaining A330-300 on firm order was deferred to 2007. Based on this, it appears that only 1 of this year's A330 deliveries was from the original firm order.
Per the 2002 Annual Report, US revised the Airbus order to convert the 1 remaining A330 order to 10 A330-200's (concurrently reducing A320 orders from 37 to 19) to be delivered during the period 2007 through 2009.
Other than financing arrangements, there was no change to the A330 orders in 2003, per the Annual Report.
In Feb 2005 in BK2, the judge approved the agreement with Airbus to delivery schedule for the remaining A330's to the 2008 through 2009 time frame. This was the agreement that also provided that US would get deposits/progress payments returned by Airbus, canceling specific delivery dates.
In connection with the merger, US and Airbus reached agreement whereby US agreed to assume the purchase committments for Airbus aircraft (narrowbody and widebody), adjust the delivery schedule of aircraft from Airbus (hence getting the first A330-200's in 2009 instead of 2008) and order the A350. Airbus agreed to eliminate the cancellation penalties on US' existing orders as long as US met predelivery payment requirements (reinstating the deposits/progress payments) and to loan US $250 million of which part would be used for the deposits on A330's and A350's.
So to recap, US had taken delivery of the 9 A330-300's currently on the property and had orders for 10 additional A330-200's but had no deposits/progress payments in place for those additional 10 airplanes. The Airbus agreement in connection with the merger provided the loan from Airbus to bring depostis/progress payments up to date and confirm a delivery schedule.
Jim
