Sky Talk

Bombardier to build MD-80 replacement

LONDON -- Coming to you live, at 11:11 p.m. London time, yes, really. News of the day before the Farnborough Air Show opens.

Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier earlier today announced plans to build a new, fuel efficient and environmentally family of jetliners.

Bombardier’s C-Series jets includes 110 and 130 passenger models (seating up to 145) aimed specifically at replacing fuel guzzling MD-80s, like the more than 300 flown by American Airlines, and even newer Boeing and Airbus jets.

The new planes “will revolutionize the economic and network strategies of airlines,” Gary Scott, president of Bombardier’s commercial aircraft division, said at the press conference held at the show site.

Bombardier officials said the new plane will burn 20 percent less fuel than the newest Boeing and Airbus jets of similar size and cost airlines 15 percent less to operate, with even better comparisons on older MD-80s and 737s. The plane will have five across seating, like the MD-80/DC-9 series, but will be six inches wider for more passenger room.

The aircraft will be based on a new highly fuel-efficient Pratt Whitney jet engine and be constructed of lighter weight carbon-fiber composites and aluminum-lithium alloys.

“Given the spiraling cost of fuel, this aircraft is exactly what the airlines need,” Scott said. The new engine technology will also mean a quieter aircraft, and large reductions in emission of carbon dioxide – the greenhouse gas – nitrous oxide pollutants.

At this point Bombardier does not have a firm order for the jets, which will carry a list price in the mid $40 million range.But Lufthansa, the big international carrier, has given Bombardier a “latter of intent” expressing the desire to buy 30 aircraft with options for 30 more.

-- Bob Cox

US Airways, NWA, can suspend China flights

US Airways and Northwest Airlines, seeking to pare capacity because of rising fuel costs, won U.S. permission to suspend some China flights without losing rights to fly there later, Bloomberg News reports.

• US Airways can begin its new Philadelphia-Beijing flights March 25, 2010, one year later than planned, the Transportation Department said.
• Northwest can suspend the daily U.S.-Guangzhou cargo flights it was operating, the agency said.
• The U.S. denied seven carriers’ request for blanket authority to suspend international routes, saying it will decide requests individually. US Airways, Northwest, American, United, Delta, Continental and Alaska Air made the request.

U.S. airlines are collectively cutting 20,000 jobs and parking 430 planes to shrink operations after jet-fuel prices doubled in the past year. Carriers need U.S. approval to cut limited-entry international routes or they risk losing those flights to rivals when the economy improves.

US Airways, which last year won permission for its first China flight, requested the one-year delay in May.

The Tempe, Arizona-based carrier said fuel costs made the flight “uneconomic” during 2009. Northwest, which said in April it would suspend Guangzhou all-cargo flights this month, had sought permission to resume the service “as warranted by fuel and economic conditions” any time through March 25, 2011.

The seven carriers sought waiver authority last month without saying how many international routes they may trim or for how long. The agency said it rejected the blanket waiver because each limited-entry market is different.

-- Scott Nishimura

AA: Layoffs could top 6,000

In a "Jetwire" notice to American Airlines employees this afternoon, Jeff Brundage, who heads human resources for the company, said he expects employee reductions to be commensurate with the overall reduction in capacity at American and American Eagle this fall.

That means about 8 percent of employees will be cut. Based on the 85,000 full-time-equivalent jobs at American, Brundage's announcement suggests that about 6,800 jobs could be eliminated by the end of the year.

- Trebor Banstetter

Pilot, ground worker cuts not expected today

Although American disclosed some specifics on flight attendant furloughs, don't expect any details on pilots or ground workers, at least not immediately. A spokesman with the airline confirmed that job cuts for those employees are still being calculated, and a representative from the Allied Pilots Association told us that they haven't received any communication from the company regarding layoffs.

UPDATE, 2:53 P.M.

Keep reading to see a message sent to pilots today from Mark Hettermann, who heads American's flight department.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA to cut 900 attendant jobs

American Airlines informed the Association of Professional Flight Attendants that it will cut 900 jobs effective Aug. 31. Frank Bastien, the union's spokesman, told us that he's hopeful many of those cuts can be offset by attendants taking voluntary leaves.

The cuts are related to American's plans to downsize its passenger capacity by up to 12 percent this fall. Keep reading for the union's hotline on the cuts, and we have a story on the cuts here.

- Trebor Banstetter

Pilot by day, pooper-scooper by night

The Allied Pilots Association recently asked American Airlines pilots to talk about second jobs they had started to make ends meet after wages were cut sharply in 2003. Here's my favorite response, from an MD-80 captain based in Chicago:

“Five years ago when this place started to go down the tubes I got an idea to start a residential and commercial dog waste removal business. My wife was not happy to say the least, but now that it is a growing concern (business is picking up you might say) she is impressed with the concept and well rewarded as the part time bookkeeper.”

Keep reading for more career adventures from American pilots.

- Trebor Banstetter

"Dear American Airlines" discussed

In its latest edition, the Star-Telegram Book Club tackles the novel Dear American Airlines, a tale that begins as an angry letter written in an airport terminal by a stranded traveler. Christopher Kelly and Sarah Johnston have an audio review of the novel, which they conclude is ultimately thin and unconvincing despite a promising premise.

You can check it out here.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA-pilot talks still stalled

Despite being taken over by a mediator, it looks like contract negotiations between American Airlines and its pilots union are still moving at a snail's pace. According to the union, the groups haven't sat down since June 12. That's because the mediator apparently hasn't been available since then.

The next meetings for the two sides are scheduled for July 30, July 1 and 2. We'll see if things speed up at all.

- Trebor Banstetter

More fare hikes

American and Continental have joined in the latest round of fare increases, according to FareCompare.com, both adding $20 to $40 round-trip. U.S. Airways and Northwest are still on the fence.

- Trebor Banstetter

AA, attendant talks break down

Contract talks between American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants ended late Thursday without inking a hoped-for short-term deal. The union had been hoping that it could forge an interim agreement that would have provided some financial relief to attendants, but without the time and years of effort that goes into a complete contract overhaul.

Keep reading for the union's message to members.

- Trebor Banstetter