Tag Archives: CLT

American to add nonstop Dallas/Fort Worth-Edmonton service on April 2

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) will add a new nonstop route connecting its Dallas/Fort Worth hub with Edmonton, Alberta starting on April 2, 2014. The new daily service will be operated with an Airbus A319 featuring eight First Class seats, 24 Main Cabin Extra seats with additional legroom and 96 Main Cabin seats.

The new service will operate daily, with the three-hour, 55-minute southbound flight leaving Edmonton at 8:10 a.m. (0810) and arriving in Dallas/Fort Worth at 1:05 p.m. (1305). The four-hour, five-minute northbound flight will leave Dallas/Fort Worth at 4:20 p.m. (1620) and arrive in Edmonton at 7:25 p.m. (1925).
About Edmonton International Airport:

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/Airlinersgallery.com. Airbus A319-115 N9002U (msn 5698) arrives at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

American Airlines:

US Airways to operate seasonal Philadelphia-Edinburgh flights

US Airways (Phoenix) will offer new nonstop daily service from the airline’s international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. For the first time, the airline will operate flights to and from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) on 176-seat dual-class Boeing 757-200 aircraft between May 23, 2014 and October 1, 2014.

The flight schedule is as follows:

Flight #	Origin	Destination	Dep. Time	Arrival Time	Start Date	End Date
784	PHL	EDI	8:50 p.m.	8:40 a.m.*	May 23, 2014	Sept. 30, 2014
785	EDI	PHL	10:50.a.m.	1:35 p.m.	May 24, 2014	Oct. 1, 2014

*Flight arrives the following day.

With the new service, US Airways will operate 472 weekday departures and serve 118 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Europe and the Caribbean from Philadelphia International Airport.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-2B7 N200UU (msn 27809) taxies to the runway at the Charlotte hub.

US Airways:

US Airways joins the PED airline list

US Airways (Phoenix) customers as of yesterday (November 7) can now use certain portable electronic devices (PEDs), including e-books, tablets and smartphones, during taxi, takeoff and landing while in “airplane mode” – a departure from the previous Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restriction on use below 10,000 feet. Customers on US Airways domestic mainline flights will now be permitted to use small PEDs during all phases of flight.

In approving the use of PEDs, the FAA ensured that all US Airways mainline aircraft are equipped to safely handle implementation of the new recommendations. US Airways continues to work with all partner airlines operating as US Airways Express to ensure timely implementation of their individual programs which require separate FAA approval.

Travelers should keep in mind the following details with regard to the new policy:

The FAA’s new recommendations regarding onboard PED use apply only to domestic flights flown by US Airways mainline aircraft.
Phone calls are not permitted once the main cabin door is closed or before a flight attendant makes an announcement upon arrival.
Customers should adhere to all crewmember safety instructions and refrain from using PEDs during pre-flight safety announcements.
During takeoff and landing, customers are now permitted to secure items lighter than two pounds by holding them (with the option of securing them in seatback pockets). PEDs heavier than two pounds must be secured for taxi, takeoff and landing in an overhead bin or underneath the seat in front of them.
PEDs must be operated in “airplane mode” or with cellular services disabled.
In-flight Wi-Fi is available on most aircraft once it reaches an altitude of 10,000 feet and an onboard announcement has been made.

US Airways’ adoption of the new policy is the latest step in the company’s effort to upgrade its customers’ in-flight experience. Earlier this year, the airline installed Gogo Wi-Fi In-flight internet on 270 Airbus A319, A320, A321 and Embraer 190 aircraft along with 58 Embraer 170 and 175 US Airways Express aircraft – outfitting 90 percent of the company’s domestic aircraft with wireless internet capabilities. US Airways’ Airbus A319, A320 and A321 planes are equipped with Gogo’s ATG-4 (air-to-ground) technology, which strengthens the wireless internet capacity and increases the available data rate for customers.

US Airways:

US Airways to launch four new international routes from Charlotte in the spring

US Airways (Phoenix) will launch new nonstop service between its largest hub at Charlotte, North Carolina and Barcelona, Spain; Brussels, Belgium; Lisbon, Portugal and Manchester, England this spring. The four flights from Charlotte supplement the airline’s current service to these destinations from its international gateway at Philadelphia International Airport. Service to Barcelona, Lisbon and Manchester will begin on May 22, 2014. Service to Brussels will launch on June 5, 2014. The new flights bring the number of international destinations US Airways serves from Charlotte to 38 – ten cities in Europe and 28 in Canada, Mexico, Latin America, South America and the Caribbean. US Airways now serves 145 airports in 28 countries from Charlotte.

The flight schedules are as follows:

From Charlotte (CLT) to:	Departure	Arrival	Aircraft Type	First Day of Service	Last day of service
Barcelona (BCN)	6:35 p.m.	9:10 a.m.	Airbus A330-200 with Envoy Suite	May 22, 2014	Oct. 24, 2014
Lisbon (LIS)	8:25 p.m.	9:20 a.m.	Boeing 757	May 22, 2014	Sept. 28, 2014
Manchester(MAN)	8:35 p.m.	9:30 a.m.	Boeing 757	May 22, 2014	Sept. 28, 2014
Brussels (BRU)	4:30 p.m.	7:00 a.m.	Boeing 767	June 5, 2014	Sept. 1, 2014

To Charlotte(CLT) from:	Departure	Arrival	Aircraft Type	First Day of Service	Last day of service
Barcelona (BCN)	2:30 p.m.	6:15 p.m.	Airbus A330-200 with Envoy Suite	May 23, 2014	Oct. 25, 2014
Lisbon (LIS)	11:20 a.m.	3:15 p.m.	Boeing 757	May 23, 2014	Sept. 29, 2014
Manchester (MAN)	2:25 p.m.	6:20 p.m.	Boeing 757	May 23, 2014	Sept. 29, 2014
Brussels (BRU)	10:15 a.m.	1:45 p.m.	Boeing 767	June 6, 2014	Sept. 2, 2014

Customers traveling between Charlotte and Barcelona in Envoy, US Airways international business class, will experience the Envoy Suite, which is featured on all of the airline’s Airbus A330 aircraft. The Envoy Suite features an adjustable seat that reclines into a fully flat bed, personal in-flight entertainment and a standard 110-volt universal power outlet so customers can work, play or relax.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-243 N279AY (msn 1011) climbs away from the runway at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) hub.

Have you seen the “new look” AirlinersGallery.com photo library?

US Airways:

PSA Airlines’ pilots ratify a new contract, airline to receive 30 large regional jets

PSA Airlines’ (2nd) (US Airways Express) (Dayton) pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), have ratified tentative agreements reached with the managements of PSA Airlines and its parent company, US Airways Group Inc. (Phoenix), that guarantee the placement of 30 large regional jets at PSA. With 85.99 percent of eligible pilots casting their ballots, 61 percent voted in favor of the agreements.

The agreements are contingent on the merger of US Airways Group and AMR Corporation by December 31, 2015.

The agreements include a commitment by US Airways Group to place a minimum of 30 large regional jets on the PSA operating certificate. PSA pilots will also be granted seniority-based interviews and guaranteed additional job offers at US Airways. In exchange, PSA pilots agreed to pay adjustments, changes to medical premiums, and an extension of their contract to 2023. Coming six months to the day after the pilots ratified a new contract, the agreements also provide PSA pilots with greater job security at PSA, furlough protections, and opportunities for first officers to upgrade to captain positions more quickly.

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/Airlinersgallery.com. PSA currently operates 35 smaller Bombardier CRJ200s and 14 of the pictured CRJ700 (CL-600-2C10). N702PS (msn 10135) departs from the Charlotte hub.

US Airways Express-PSA Airlines:

AMR and US Airways Group extend their merger agreement

AMR Corporation (Dallas/Fort Worth), the parent company of American Airlines, Inc., (Dallas/Fort Worth) and US Airways Group, Inc. (Phoenix), the parent of US Airways (Phoenix), have each agreed to extend the outside date at which either party may terminate the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), in light of the trial schedule surrounding litigation with U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

In a joint statement, Tom Horton, chairman, president and CEO of AMR, and Doug Parker, chairman and CEO of US Airways, said, “The Boards and management teams of AMR and US Airways remain committed to completing this combination to create the new American, and the extension of this outside date is a reflection of this commitment. Our focus is on mounting a vigorous defense and winning our court case so the new American can enhance competition, provide better service to our customers and create more opportunities for our employees.”

The amended Merger Agreement extends the date on which either AMR or US Airways may terminate the Merger Agreement from December 17, 2013 to the later of January 18, 2014, or, if the Court enters an order on or before January 17, 2014 in favor of American and US Airways, on the 15th day following the entry of such order. In the event of an unfavorable ruling by the Court, AMR or US Airways may terminate the merger agreement five days after the Court enters a final, but appealable, order permanently enjoining the merger.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. American’s Boeing 737-823 N925NN (msn 31169) prepares to touch down at Washington’s Reagan National Airport.

American Airlines:

US Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. US Airways’ Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW N961UW (msn 19000183) taxies to the runway at the Charlotte hub.

American and US Airways file a motion for all DOJ documents relating to all previous mergers for the last 10 years

American Airlines (Dallas/Fort Worth) and US Airways (Phoenix) have filed a motion in court requesting all analyses, studies, forecasts and all other documents relating to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) approval of the four previous mergers completed over the past decade (Delta-Northwest, United-Continental, Southwest-AirTran and US Airways-America West).

The DOJ is opposing the American-US Airways merger but approved these four mergers in the past.

The DOJ stated it would reply formally to the motion next week according to this report by Reuters.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-115 N93003 (msn 5704) is now in service with American Airlines and prepares to land at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

American Airlines:

US Airways:

Delta partners with 15 National Football League teams for the 2013 season

Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) begins the 2013 football season enjoying relationships with nearly half of the National Football League’s 32 teams. Delta has forged marketing relationships with 12 NFL teams and serves as the charter carrier for an additional three teams.

Delta is the official airline and charter carrier of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans. Additionally Delta is the proud partner and charter carrier of the Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. Delta is also the proud charter carrier for the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles.

In addition to the 15 NFL relationships, Delta enjoys a marketing and/or charter relationship with 14 Major League Baseball teams, 22 National Basketball Association teams and eight National Hockey League teams. Delta uses marketing agreements in strategic markets to engage fans and customers and create awareness of the Delta brand.

Delta’s charter product – which flew both NFL teams to the Super Bowl in 2013 – is used by collegiate and professional teams worldwide to accommodate their hectic travel schedules and needs.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-114 N328NB (msn 1520) is one of the aircraft used for smaller team charters. N328NB rests during the game at Charlotte.

Delta Air Lines:

United Airlines posts a second quarter net profit of $469 million

United Airlines (Chicago) today reported second-quarter 2013 net income of $521 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, excluding $52 million of special charges. Including special charges, UAL reported second-quarter 2013 net income of $469 million, an increase of 38 percent year-over-year, or $1.21 per diluted share.

UAL generated $10 billion of revenue in the second quarter of 2013, its highest ever second-quarter revenue result.
Leading the U.S. airline industry in year-over-year passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) growth for the second consecutive quarter, United’s PRASM increased 1.0 percent in the second quarter compared to the second quarter of 2012.
Second-quarter consolidated unit costs (CASM), holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant and excluding special charges and third-party business expense, increased 4.5 percent year-over-year on a consolidated capacity (available seat miles) reduction of 2.1 percent. Second-quarter consolidated CASM increased 0.7 percent year-over-year.
UAL ended the second quarter with $7.0 billion in unrestricted liquidity.

Second-Quarter Revenue and Capacity

For the second quarter, total revenue was $10.0 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the same period in 2012. Second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue decreased 1.1 percent year-over-year to $8.7 billion, on a consolidated capacity decrease of 2.1 percent year-over-year. Cargo and other revenue in the second quarter increased 13.8 percent versus the second quarter of 2012, or $162 million, to $1.3 billion.

Consolidated revenue passenger miles (RPMs) decreased 1.7 percent on a consolidated capacity decrease of 2.1 percent year-over-year in the second quarter, resulting in a consolidated load factor of 84.7 percent, the highest second-quarter consolidated load factor in United’s history.

Second-quarter consolidated PRASM increased 1.0 percent compared to the same period in 2012. Consolidated yield for the second quarter increased 0.6 percent year-over-year.

Mainline RPMs in the second quarter decreased 2.1 percent on a mainline capacity decrease of 2.4 percent year-over-year, resulting in a mainline load factor of 84.9 percent. Second-quarter mainline yield increased 0.5 percent compared to the same period in 2012. Second-quarter mainline PRASM increased 0.7 percent year-over-year.

Second-Quarter Costs

Total operating expenses decreased $133 million, or 1.4 percent, in the second quarter versus the same period in 2012. Excluding special charges, second-quarter total operating expenses increased $21 million, or 0.2 percent, year-over-year.

Second-quarter consolidated and mainline CASM increased 0.7 and 1.3 percent year-over-year, respectively. Second-quarter consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense, increased 1.1 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively, compared to second-quarter 2012. Third-party business expense was $170 million in the second quarter of 2013.

In the second quarter, consolidated and mainline CASM, excluding special charges and third-party business expense and holding fuel rate and profit sharing constant, increased 4.5 percent and 5.2 percent, respectively, compared to the second quarter of 2012.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

UAL ended the second quarter with $7.0 billion in unrestricted liquidity, including $1.0 billion of undrawn commitments under its revolving credit facility. During the second quarter, UAL generated $1.1 billion of operating cash flow. The company’s gross capital expenditures and purchase deposits for the quarter were $549 million. The company made debt and capital lease principal payments of $540 million in the second quarter, including $144 million of pre-payments.

Finance, Network and Fleet

United issued $300 million of senior unsecured notes due 2018 at an interest rate of 6.375 percent.
During the quarter, the company expanded its industry-leading global route network, launching new nonstop service between Paris and San Francisco; between Tokyo and Denver and between Shannon, Ireland, and Chicago. The company also launched new nonstop service to Austin, Texas; Charleston, S.C.; Fairbanks, Alaska; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Mobile, Ala.; Portland, Ore.; Saint George, Utah; San Jose, Costa Rica; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; Traverse City, Mich.; Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; and Wichita, Kan. United also added three new cities to its network: Dickinson, N.D.; Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada and Santa Fe, N.M. The company announced future new nonstop markets, including the company’s first nonstop service to St. Lucia, as well as additional service to Austin, Texas, and Gunnison, Colo.
United welcomed back the Boeing 787 Dreamliner with commercial service between Houston and its other domestic hubs. The airline launched the highly anticipated Denver to Tokyo-Narita service in June, marking a successful return of the Dreamliner to United’s international skies. United also launched temporary 787 service from Houston to London in June, and in August the company will start additional 787 international service from Houston to Lagos, Nigeria, and from Los Angeles to Tokyo and Shanghai.
The company increased its Dreamliner order to 65. United will be the North American launch customer for the Boeing 787-10. The company also converted its existing order for 25 A350-900s into A350-1000s and added an additional 10 aircraft to the order, totaling 35 aircraft. United expects delivery for both the 787-10 and A350-1000 beginning in 2018, enabling the airline to further modernize its international widebody fleet by replacing older, less efficient aircraft to reduce fuel and operating costs, enhance the customer experience and maximize network opportunities.
United will introduce 70 Embraer 175 aircraft into the United Express fleet beginning in 2014. These aircraft – with 76 seats, a larger first-class cabin and larger overhead bins – will be operated by SkyWest Airlines, Inc. and another United Express carrier, with deliveries expected in 2014 and 2015.
The company took delivery of six Boeing 737-900 ERs and removed from service two Boeing 757-200s and the last five Boeing 737-500s and the last five Boeing 767-200s from its fleet.
The company executed a definitive purchase agreement with AltAir Fuels for 15 million gallons of cost-competitive, commercial-scale, sustainable aviation biofuel to be used on flights departing LAX in 2014. AltAir Fuels’ renewable jet fuel is expected to achieve at least a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions on a lifecycle basis.

Product, Loyalty Program and Facilities

United reached a milestone of being the only U.S. carrier offering 180-degree flat-bed seats and personal on-demand entertainment in premium cabins on all scheduled, long-haul international flights from the continental U.S.
The company continued outfitting aircraft with global satellite Wi-Fi, offering inflight connectivity on long-haul international flights. The airline now has 57 aircraft complete and is installing satellite Wi-Fi at a rate of over 25 aircraft per month for the remainder of 2013.
The airline introduced its 200th aircraft with live television, offering customers more than 100 channels of live programming while in-flight. United operates more live television-equipped aircraft than any other airline in the world.
United launched subscription options that offer customers access to Economy Plus seating or pre-paid checked baggage charges for a year, providing new choices for customers to tailor their travel experiences.
United introduced a revenue component to its MileagePlus premier status qualification requirements for the 2015 program year.
United debuted the MileagePlus Small Business Network, a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that enables businesses to earn and redeem miles by purchasing goods and services from the program’s vendor partners, including leading providers of printing, shipping, credit card payment processing, office supplies and computing services.
United opened its new Terminal B south concourse at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport. The $97 million south concourse is a new 225,000-square-foot facility dedicated to United Express regional flights.
United signed a 20-year lease extension at Newark Liberty International Airport and committed to invest an additional $150 million in the region’s largest hub to ensure the airport remains one of the country’s premier global gateways. The facility upgrades include a redesign of the airline’s check-in facilities, a new catering facility and an advanced checked baggage screening system.

Top Copyright Photo: Jay Selman/AirlinersGallery.com. During the second quarter United Airlines again retired the last five Boeing 737-500s and the last five Boeing 767-200s from its fleet. Boeing 737-524 N16642 (msn 28903) climbs away from the runway at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

United Airlines:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 767-224 ER N69154 (msn 30433) rests between flights at Los Angeles International Airport.

US Airways reports a record Second Quarter net profit

US Airways Group, Inc. (US Airways) (Phoenix) today reported its second quarter 2013 financial results. For the second quarter 2013, pretax profit excluding net special items was $409 million, the highest in Company history. Net profit excluding net special items was a record $324 million, or $1.58 per diluted share. Net profit excluding net special items for the second quarter 2012 was $321 million, or $1.61 per diluted share. The Company’s 2013 second quarter net profit excluding net special items was negatively impacted by a non-cash provision for income tax of $85 million. There was no provision for income tax recorded in 2012.

On a GAAP basis, the Company reported a net profit of $287 million for its second quarter 2013, or $1.40 per diluted share. This compares to a net profit of $306 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, for the same period in 2012. The Company’s 2013 second quarter net profit was negatively impacted by a non-cash provision for income tax of $67 million.

See the accompanying notes in the Financial Tables section of this press release for a reconciliation of GAAP financial information to non-GAAP financial information.

Revenue and Cost Comparisons

Total revenues in the second quarter were a record $3.9 billion, up 2.9 percent versus the second quarter 2012 on a 3.4 percent increase in total available seat miles (ASMs). Total revenue per ASM was 16.22 cents, down 0.5 percent versus the same period last year driven by a 2.8 percent decrease in passenger yield, offset by a record quarterly load factor of 85.1 percent.

Total operating expenses in the second quarter were $3.4 billion, up 1.0 percent over the same period last year. Mainline cost per available seat mile (CASM) was 12.88 cents, down 2.0 percent on a 4.2 percent increase in mainline ASMs. Excluding special items, fuel and profit sharing, mainline CASM was 8.21 cents, down 0.4 percent versus the same period last year. Express CASM excluding special items and fuel was 14.34 cents, up 1.1 percent on a 0.3 percent decrease in ASMs.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2013, the Company had a record $4.0 billion in total cash and investments, of which $350 million was restricted. This is up approximately $1.1 billion from the Company’s first quarter 2013 total cash and investments balance of $2.9 billion, of which $352 million was restricted.

During the second quarter, the Company raised approximately $870 million in net incremental cash through a series of financing transactions. These transactions included the refinancing of the Company’s term loan (resulting in approximately $270 million in incremental cash); the issuance of high yield bonds in an aggregate principal amount of $500 million; and a $100 million C-tranche to its 2012-2 EETC.

Special Items

The Company recognized approximately $55 million of net special items before taxes in the second quarter. Operating special items totaled $24 million and were primarily related to merger costs. The Company also recognized approximately $31 million in nonoperating special items primarily related to debt extinguishment charges due to non-cash write offs of debt discount and debt issuance costs in connection with conversions of the Company’s 7.25% convertible senior notes and repayment of the Citicorp North America term loan. The net tax effect of these special items was approximately $18 million.

Merger Update

The Company and its representatives continue to work closely with their counterparts at American in merger integration planning. The Company continues to expect the transaction to close in the third quarter. Recent accomplishments include:

June 10: US Airways and American announced the new Board of Directors and the senior leadership team for the new American Airlines Group Inc.
June 10: The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) Form S-4 Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC.
June 19: US Airways’ Chairman and CEO Doug Parker and American Airlines’ Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer Gary Kennedy, jointly testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Operations, Safety and Security about the benefits of the new American Airlines to customers, employees, financial stakeholders and communities.
July 12: US Airways’ shareholders approved the proposed merger with 99.8 percent in favor and 0.2 percent against.
To date, leadership teams have been announced for operations, finance, revenue management, marketing, human resources, corporate communications, and legal and labor relations.

Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-112 N733UW (msn 1205) in the Pittsburgh Steelers motif taxies to the active runway at the Charlotte hub.

US Airways: