Us Airways Express Restructuring

[USA320Pilot]

During US Airways July 28 Wall Street Analyst Conference Call, US Airways chief executive officer Dave Siegel said the company will “consolidate the number of regional partners in a year or two.â€￾ The airline said it will significantly reduce the number of turboprops in the next few years and will phase out PSA’s Dornier 328s in the next 18 months. The 328s have become increasingly difficult to maintain and US Airways expects to have over 300 RJS in service by the end of 2006. During the bankruptcy reorganization Siegel said the carrier obtained flexible turboprop lease cancellation agreements and these aircraft will come out of service “at very little cost.â€￾

Then on August 7 US Airways Express carrier Allegheny Airlines president Keith Houk wrote a letter to all employees and said the Harrisburg-based airline “does not anticipate receiving RJs in the near future and many of our current leases expire shortly resulting in a significant planned reduction to our fleet.â€￾ The carrier “will return six aircraft by the end of 2003 and anticipates additional aircraft returns in early 2004,â€￾ he said. Accordingly, on September 8, â€￾we will close our Maintenance base in Binghamton,â€￾ Houk noted.

Two week’s later in a letter to All Pittsburgh Based Pilots dated August 20, US Airways Pittsburgh chief pilot Jim Corbusier said, “Over the next several months, we will begin sharing our crew room facilities here in Pittsburgh with fellow crewmembers from PSA, MAA, and our affiliates. There will be no impact for our crewmembers other than seeing some new faces.â€￾ In regard to negotiations with the Allegheny County Airport Authority (AGAA) Corbusier said, “Many of you have expressed thoughtful concern about the future of Pittsburgh. Mr. Al Crellin, executive VP of operations, stated in an open forum here recently that he believes once issues are satisfactorily resolved that the mainline operation will stay about the same size.â€￾

Regards,

Chip

 

[phllax]

So what's the deal with Trans States and Midway. Is Trans States going to leave the program to go to UA and how many RJ's are from them anyway? Is Midway even still flying, and if so how many jets? The only one who gets any press is MESA.

 

[flyin2low]

TranStates has around 20 rj's operating for US Airways. Midway has around 6 and is still operating out of DCA.

 

[airbrush]

As an 18-year Allegheny employee, the above remarks carry considerable significance.
If we were going to be part of the future of US Airways, I see no reason why Express Division would not make that clear, at least with some indications about our future that give reason for hope. Current trends indicate the opposite.
On the other hand, if we are to be allowed to whither as our aircraft are returned, prior to being dissolved altogether, then there would be NO incentive for management to reveal this too far in advance. It would just cause a mass exodus and drop in morale and performance before they are ready to pull the trigger.
Nearly forty years of fatality-free operations-and don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.....
Although there are still many RJs on order that have yet to be spoken for, it definitely feels like Allegheny's ship, and maybe Piedmont's as well, has already hit the iceberg. Lifeboats, anyone? That water sure looks cold.....

 

[pitguy]

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