The Cranky Flier » Boeing

Cranky on the Web (January 11-15)

CF — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:21:41 +0000

US Airways Pilots Infighting Grows Worse by the Day – BNET
It appears the US East pilots are tired of fighting the west pilots. Now they’re turning on each other. Unreal.

Airline Capacity Cuts Slow in December, Some Carriers See Growth – BNET
December traffic numbers show some interesting trends.

United Pushes International Presence with Muddled Marketing Message in Denver Fight – BNET
United is heading back to its Independence Air playbook in its fight in Denver.

Boeing’s Loss of 787-3 Orders is Good News – BNET
When is a canceled order a good thing? When it allows Boeing to walk away from the 787-3.

Sean Menke Leaves Frontier Airlines, This Can’t Be Good – BNET
Sean Menke is leaving Frontier and Republic, and that doesn’t bode well for the airline.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner Flies

CF — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:11:37 +0000

It’s Wednesday and I think we all need a break from the problems of this industry. Let’s forget about looming strikes, delayed deliveries, red ink, etc and simply focus on the wonders of flight. The 787 finally slipped the surly bonds of Earth yesterday, and it was a beautiful sight. Here’s a shot from Boeing.

Take a look at that wing flex. Pretty crazy, huh? The 787 doesn’t look nearly as mean as it did in its initial renderings, but it’s still a very nice-looking airplane. Those massive Rolls Royce engines do seem disproportional to the body though. (GE ones begin testing soon.) Then again, they need those bad boys to save gas and fly further.

Fortunately, it didn’t just take to the air, but it also came back down and landed safely. The flight lasted only about 3 hours; it was cut short due to weather. This is just the beginning of a long road ahead. First deliveries to launch customer ANA are still probably a year away.

If you didn’t see the live webcast from Boeing or the countless images from the media, take a look at this video of the flight from David at AirlineReporter.com.

If you really want to follow the details, you have to follow FlightBlogger. He has plenty of videos and info over there.

Congratulations to all those who have worked on this airplane around the globe. It must be an incredible feeling to see your work take flight.

Cranky on the Web (December 7 – 11)

CF — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:15:45 +0000

Enjoy foreign service on N. American flights – USA Today
I talk to USA Today’s Ben Mutzabaugh about some of the “fifth freedom” flights operating in the US, including my personal favorite – Air New Zealand from LAX to London.

Airlines Fill Seats with Ease in November, Southwest Leaps Ahead – BNET
Southwest boosted its loads by 13.3 points in November. Yeehaw, that’s a lot.

Airlines Charging More for That Sought-After Seat – The New York Times
I voice the somewhat unpopular sentiment that charging for better seats on the plane is a good thing.

United Airlines Fights Mesa Air Group Over Airplanes (Part I) – BNET
United is suing Mesa over the introduction of 10 regional jets into service. This is the story of how they got to this point.

United Splits Its Widebody Fleet Order Between Boeing and Airbus – BNET
Why did United split its fleet order? Blame the manufacturers.

United Airlines Sues Mesa Air Group Over Airplanes (Part II) – BNET
And now, part 2 of our saga. In short, it seems to me that United wants out and Mesa made a mistake.

Radio Interview on the Noon Business Hour – WBBM 780 Chicago
I spoke with WBBM on Boeing’s prospects after the United order. My segment begins at the 25 minute mark and goes for about 3 minutes.

Japan and the US Near Aviation Open Skies Agreement, American and Delta Salivate – BNET
The Japanese market is one of the most fascinating to watch right now. Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening.

In the Loop Radio Guest and This Week on BNET (July 6 – 10)

CF — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:28:13 +0000

I’m hijacking my usual “This Week on BNET” post with a brief plug. Minnesota Public Radio puts out a weekly podcast called In the Loop, and I was one of the guests for this week’s production. I usually do interviews on the phone, but this time I went downtown to record in a radio booth where they record NPR’s Marketplace. That means you get to hear my voice in all its crystal-clear glory.

We talked about the latest fun with Ryanair, Wizz Air’s busted promotion, and of course, United breaking guitars. Take a listen for yourself. My piece starts at 18:30 if you want to skip ahead, but it’s a fun show that’s worth listening to the whole way through.

If you can’t see this, click to download

Why is Delta Getting More MD-90s?
Delta is acquiring more MD-90s, and I can’t quite figure out why they’re doing it.

Spirit is Not Buying Air Jamaica
It’s rumored that Spirit is buying Air Jamaica, but that’s not true. There could be some unique opportunities ahead, however.

US Airways Sees Further Unit Revenue Erosion in June
June numbers are starting to trickle in, and US Airways appears to have had a rough June.

Official: Boeing Buys Vought’s 787 Operation
Last week it was a rumor, and this week it’s official. Boeing is bringing some 787 work in-house.

United Feels the Pain When Complaints Go Viral
United broke Dave Carroll’s guitar and they wouldn’t pay for it. Now he’s written a song and it’s gone viral. United can’t be happy.

June 2009 Monthly Traffic Numbers
June was a mixed bag for the airlines with some improving loads and others falling back. One constant theme, however, was lower capacity.

Virgin America Gets New Funding
Meet Virgin America’s new investors, same as the old investors? What’s going on here?

This Week on BNET (June 29 – July 3)

CF — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:19:33 +0000

Recession Means More People Travel Locally, Take Shorter Trips
It’s not a surprise, but people are changing their travel habits in this economy. The numbers are sobering to see.

US-EU Open Skies Phase II Talks Begin
All eyes are on round two of the talks – this, the EU hopes, will result in cabotage rights within the US.

United, Continental Antitrust Application Slammed by DOJ
The DOT was in favor of the broad antitrust immunity application, but the DOJ isn’t so happy.

Frontier Makes Money in May, What’s Next?
Frontier is making money, and that’s great, but it’s what happens next that really determines how this airline will be doing going forward. Lots of changes could be underway.

Boeing Set to Buy Vought?
Boeing seems to be having seconds thoughts about outsourcing most of the 787 part production, and it now appears to be bringing one of its suppliers back in-house.

This Week on BNET (June 22 – 26)

CF — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:57:37 +0000

US Airways’ Charlotte to Honolulu Flight Might Just Work
At first glance, the new US Airways flight from Charlotte to Honolulu seems pretty awful, but it may actually end up being smart.

Alaska Fills the Void in the Austin to San Jose Market
American pulls out and a couple days later, Alaska moves in. This might be smart.

Continental’s Biofuel Test Results are Good
Continental’s biofuel test results mirror those of Air New Zealand. They’re good.

Frontier to Become Subsidiary of Republic
Frontier announced yesterday that it plans to come out of bankruptcy as a full subsidiary of Republic.

What is Republic’s Strategy?
Now that Republic has stepped out in a big way with its Frontier purchase, what exactly is its strategy?

787 First Flight Delayed . . . Again
Did you hear that scream from airline exec offices around the world? The 787 is delayed once again.

United Pilots Prepare for Scope Battle
Pilot negotiations at United are heating up and Scope is about to take center stage.

Malev Orders Sukhoi Superjets
The Superjet got a big order, but is this the start of something big?

This Week on BNET (March 30 – April 3)

CF — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:25:32 +0000

Alliance Panel at the Phoenix Aviation Symposium
The alliances discussion was one of the more interesting panels, I thought. The talk centered around why and even if alliances are worthwhile.

Modernizing the Fleet: Phoenix Aviation Symposium
So when is the right time to buy new airplanes? Credit is hard to come by and people are waiting for new technology. When will that happen?

Aircraft Manufacturers, Regulators Fight Over the Environment
A discussion on the environment turned heated as everyone tried to discuss the best way to make things better. Unsurprisingly, there was no consensus.

The Importance of American’s Wi-fi Announcement
American’s decision to expand wireless internet to most of its domestic fleet is a very important one for the US airline industry. And that’s good news for travelers.

JetBlue’s President and COO Russ Chew Talks About the Airline’s Transformation
I didn’t just sit down with JetBlue CEO Dave Barger last week. I also spoke with Russ Chew to talk about the airline’s internal transformation.

This Week on BNET (Feb 23 – 27)

CF — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:17:17 +0000

JetBlue Leaves Open Skies for Sabre
The Open Skies system may be simple, but it no longer provides what many low cost carriers need. That’s why it’s Sabre time.

Abandoned Airport Looks to Solar Energy
Palmdale Airport may not work as an actual airport, but a solar energy farm? Now we’re talking.

JetBlue Offers Refunds For Those Who Lose Their Jobs
JetBlue says not to worry about losing your job, because they’ll give your money back if you do . . . with several restrictions.

Aircraft Demand Continues to Drop
Drive by Marana or Mojave and you’re likely to see plenty more airplanes collecting dust than at this time last year. The trend isn’t changing either.

Delta Replaces Northwest from Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Northwest has flown Vegas to LA for years to feed people from Tokyo and other Asian cities, but that’s ending. Delta is taking it over and changing the times.

Large Aircraft Security Proposal Threatens to Strangle General Aviation
The TSA is at it again. This time, they’re trying to slap commercial aviation-style security on general aviation. Uh oh.

Sabre Allows Travel Agents to Sell United’s Economy Plus
It took them long off, but United and Sabre have finally teamed together to allow travel agents using Sabre to sell Economy Plus upgrades on United.

Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running
Alaska now has one plane test flying with onboard internet. When will one of these test airlines actually commit?

This Week on BNET (Nov 3 – 7)

CF — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:06:33 +0000

Delta Announces New Team of Officers
Now that the Delta/Northwest merger is done, the airline has decided to roll out its new management team, taking pieces from both sides of the aisle.

Airlines with Pensions Face Funding Shortfall
With stock prices down, pensions all over will be underfunded. Those airlines that kept their pensions will unfortunately be facing this problem alone.

Third Quarter 2008 Airline Yields
A list of third quarter yields by airline

Delta Decision to Add First Bag Fee Isn’t Surprising
Delta and Northwest announced a standardized set of fees yesterday, and a first bag fee is on the list. Why now, and is it the right move?

787 Won’t Fly in 2008
Now we know why Boeing didn’t taunt Airbus when the A380 saw delays. It seems that the 787 has been delayed again and won’t fly until 2009.

This Week on BNET (Oct 27 – 31)

CF — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:47:17 +0000

International Air Traffic Disappears in September
And you thought air traffic numbers in August looked bad? International traffic fell off a cliff in September, and this obviously does not bode well for the airlines.

Delta Hires Ned Walker as Chief Communications Officer
Delta made a big move by hiring a communications star. This is a good thing, because Delta needs all the help it can get right now.

Boeing and IAM Reach Tentative Agreement
Boeing and the IAM have agreed upon a tentative agreement to end their nearly two-month long strike. Now what does this mean for the 787?

Common Airline Term Definitions
ASM, RPM, RASM, CASM . . . . You’ve heard the terms, but do you know the definitions? Here’s a guide to the basics.

JetBlue’s “Refresh and Rejuvenate” Program Shows Commitment to Labor
JetBlue has decided to allow pilots and flight attendants to take leaves from one month to one year with full benefits and seniority. It’s rare to see an airline have such a pro-employee program.

Delta and Northwest Receive Government Approval for Merger
It’s official. Delta and Northwest are one entity now that the DOJ has let the merger sail through the approval process. Should they have been tougher?

Third Quarter 2008 Airline Cash Positions
Here’s a list of US airline cash positions at the end of the third quarter, on September 30.

Third Quarter 2008 Airline Costs
Here’s a list of US airline costs during the third quarter.