From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Sep 12 23:19:05 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:19:05 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] Effort takes wing to keep US Airways control center Message-ID: <20060912191858.N26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 12 September 2006 ; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Effort takes wing to keep US Airways control center http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_470025.html --- By Thomas Olson Retaining US Airways' flight operations control center in Moon is "a major priority" for Allegheny County, said county Chief Executive Dan Onorato after a tour of the 450-worker site on Monday. Pittsburgh is being pitted against Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C., by US Airways, which wrote officials in those cities Aug. 29 seeking proposals, including incentives, for a new flight-control center for the merged airline. US Airways requested responses by Oct. 15 and expects to make a decision by February. The airline said it wants to have the new or consolidated facility up and running in late 2008 or early 2009. "We're in a dog fight with two other cities," said Onorato at a news conference Downtown yesterday. The airline has been using both the US Airways control center in Moon and the America West Airlines control center in Phoenix since the carriers merged a year ago. The Moon center employs 450, while the Phoenix facility has 175 workers. As many as 150 jobs could move to Pittsburgh, if US Airways consolidates into one flight-control center here, Onorato said. Such airline nerve centers use sophisticated computer programs and screens to monitor weather conditions, aircraft locations and flight plans in real time. They also schedule each day's hundreds of flights and flight crews. "One strong point we have is that a majority of these workers are here," Onorato said. He noted earlier the Pittsburgh International Airport corridor has at least 800 shovel-ready acres. US Airways estimates the project will cost about $25 million. The carrier anticipates leasing the facility for 20 years, with two 10-year options beyond that. It seeks a single-story building with at least 60,000 square feet on at least six acres. Airline executives on Thursday will give a presentation to, and field questions from, the three cities' delegations, who also will tour US Airways flight-control center in Phoenix. The airline has not made a "pre-decision," Onorato said. The Pittsburgh delegation will include Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Kent George, county Economic Development Director Dennis Davin and perhaps Onorato himself, as well as two state officials from the governor's economic development Action Team. "We will put together an aggressive proposal," Onorato said. "But this is not going to be an open cheook." Once crafted, Allegheny County's proposal will probably include low-interest loans and other incentives that dove-tail with state programs, he said. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Sep 12 23:20:56 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:20:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways Exec Dies Message-ID: <20060912192048.M26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 12 September 2006 ; The Street US Airways Exec Dies http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/newsanalysis/transportation/10308245.html --- By TSC Staff US Airways (LCC) said its chief administrative officer, Jeffrey D. McClelland, died Sunday after a four-year battle with cancer. He was 47. The Tempe, Ariz., company said it would name its flight center building in Phoenix the Jeffrey D. McClelland Flight Center. US Airways said it will also honor McClelland's memory by establishing the McClelland Scholarships within the US Airways Education Foundation. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Sep 12 23:21:56 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:21:56 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] Web marketing firm offers US Airways loyalty miles Message-ID: <20060912192057.A26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 12 September 2006 ; The Wise Marketer Web marketing firm offers US Airways loyalty miles http://www.thewisemarketer.com/briefs/archive.asp?action=read&bid=1965 --- Solid Cactus, a US-based web site design and marketing company, has announced that it is to reward its loyal customers with US Airways Dividend Miles. The company is offering customers 1 mile for each US$1 spent on its products and services, starting immediately. According to Scott Sanfilippo, co-founder and COO for Solid Cactus, "The majority of our clients are business owners who travel a great deal, so by offering them the opportunity to earn additional Dividend Miles we're helping them cut travel expenses." Dividend Miles can be redeemed for travel to more than 850 destinations worldwide. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Sep 12 23:23:07 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:07 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] Airport to purchase new baggage readers for US Airways Message-ID: <20060912192157.R26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 12 September 2006 ; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Airport to purchase new baggage readers for US Airways http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06252/720379-37.stm --- By Mark Belko A ban on liquids, gels, lotions and other items from carry-ons has triggered a big surge in luggage checked at Pittsburgh International Airport, prompting emergency spending to upgrade an automated baggage system before the busy holiday season. The Allegheny County Airport Authority board voted yesterday to spend up to $303,215 to buy new readers for the baggage system used by US Airways, the airport's largest carrier with 54.6 percent of all passengers. Authority Executive Director Kent George said the actions were precipitated by a 32 to 35 percent increase in the amount of baggage checked at the airport since British authorities foiled a plot last month to smuggle bomb components aboard U.S.-bound flights. The discovery of the plot resulted in a ban on items like shampoo, toothpaste, ointments, and moisturizers from carry-ons. Those items and other liquids, gels, and lotions now must be placed in checked luggage. Without new readers, the baggage system may not be able to keep up with the volume, particularly with the busy holiday season coming up, causing delays and potentially resulting in luggage being sent to the wrong place, Mr. George said. "If we have more misreads or more difficulty during the holiday season, with a much larger increase in baggage, more people will be inconvenienced and we don't want that to happen," he said. The readers scan tags attached to luggage at check-in and help direct luggage to the appropriate gate for outbound flights and to the appropriate carousel for pick-up on arriving flights. If they aren't working properly, bags can be directed to the wrong place or might have to be read manually, resulting in delays. Mr. George said the current readers have an efficiency rate of 62 to 65 percent -- meaning 62 to 65 of every 100 bags will get to the proper gate without a secondary or manual read. The new readers should increase that to 90 or 95 percent, he said. The authority, he added, had intended at some point to replace the readers, which have been used for at least three years and most likely much longer. "However, with the increase in bags, the airport authority felt it needed to get it done so there was less of a chance for misread bags during the holiday season," Mr. George said. The company receiving the contract, Accu-Sort Systems Inc., also has supplied readers for a separate baggage system used by other airlines at the airport. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Tue Sep 12 23:23:59 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 19:23:59 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways center could locate here Message-ID: <20060912192307.F26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 12 September 2006 ; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette US Airways center could locate here http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06255/721017-28.stm --- By Mark Belko Nearly two years ago, Allegheny County lost a battle with Winston-Salem, N.C., for a US Airways reservations call center, even though county Chief Executive Dan Onorato believed the region offered the better deal. At the time, an angry Mr. Onorato complained that the airline never had any intention of relocating the North Carolina reservations work to Pittsburgh and that competing was a "waste of our time and effort." Now Pittsburgh is competing again -- this time against Charlotte, N.C., and Phoenix to build a $25 million flight operations center for US Airways, one that would allow the region to retain 450 jobs and add up to 150. Despite the loss of the reservations work, Mr. Onorato believes Pittsburgh will get a fair shake in its bid to build the operations center. During a news conference yesterday, he said the loss of the 785 reservations jobs and 45 more at a baggage call center came under the old US Airways, before its merger with America West Airlines. This time, "I think the timing's different, [US Airways Chief Executive Officer Doug] Parker's different, and we have to assume that we have a new management team and go in with an open mind that it's a fair process," he said. That said, Mr. Onorato vowed to compete aggressively to get the operations center. It would replace two centers: one in Phoenix that employs 150 and one at RIDC Park West, near Pittsburgh International Airport, with 450 jobs. Mr. Onorato toured the local center yesterday, and later said he assured employees that the county and state would do everything they can to win the competition. "We will put together an aggressive proposal, a very aggressive proposal," he said. "The governor will be very much involved with me in putting this proposal together. We're going to do everything we can to convince US Airways that this is where they should stay." County and state economic development officials and airport authority officials will travel to Phoenix Thursday for an information gathering session with US Airways and to tour the flight center there. Mr. Onorato isn't scheduled to go, but is prepared to change his plans if he is needed. Mr. Onorato said one of the advantages the county has is the number of flight center workers now located in Pittsburgh. Relocation and retraining costs could be "critical" in the decision-making, he said. Proposals are to be submitted to US Airways by Oct. 15. The airline hopes to make a decision by January or February. The county has at least four sites near the airport under consideration for the center. Local and state officials also are considering a variety of grant, low-interest loan and other economic development incentive programs in preparing their package. US Airways has said it is looking for a single-story building, with 60,000 to 70,000 square feet, on a six-acre site, with room to expand by another three acres if needed. It also has asked about tax abatements or other incentives, including reduced building and equipment costs and operating expenses, that would make one location preferable to another. Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Kent George said last week he sees the county as the underdog in the competition because of retrenchment by US Airways in the region, where it has cut close to 10,000 jobs since 2001. Mr. Onorato sees it differently. "I think we go into this with an open mind that we have a one in [three] chance. There's three bidders. They're telling us that they have no pre-determined decision and they really want to see what's available out there," he said. "I think we have to approach it that way, that we have as good of a chance as anyone -- not a better chance, not a worse chance, just a one-third chance." From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Sep 14 11:29:19 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 07:29:19 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways flight grounded after knife discovered Message-ID: <20060914072910.Q26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 14 September 2006 ; Centre Daily Times US Airways flight grounded after knife discovered http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/15492417.htm --- PITTSBURGH -- A US Airways flight bound for North Carolina was grounded on Sunday night after a small knife was found under a seat. The flight was about to take off for Charlotte, N.C., when a passenger discovered the small scalpel under a seat at about 7:40 p.m. The 142 passengers and five crew members aboard the plane were taken off the plane while a security sweep was done. Passengers were also screened again. There was nothing else found on the plane and officials determined there was no threat. The flight, however, was canceled. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 15 01:22:49 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:22:49 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways executive Jeffrey D. McClelland dies Message-ID: <20060914212241.A26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 14 September 2006 ; AZ Central US Airways executive Jeffrey D. McClelland dies http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0911usairways-mcclelland11-ON.html --- US Airways Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Jeffrey D. McClelland has died, the company said Monday. He was 47. McClelland, who is credited for leading the airline's recovery after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, had been diagnosed with cancer four years ago. He died Sunday. "Jeff dealt with this disease the same way he approached every other challenge - with resolve and a quiet determination," US Airways President and CEO Doug Parker said in a statement. "He never complained or asked for help, choosing instead to keep his battle private while continuing to come to work and contribute well beyond what any reasonable person would expect." Parker said the company plans to rededicate its flight center building in Phoenix as the Jeffrey D. McClelland Flight Center. "We will also honor Jeff's memory by establishing the McClelland Scholarships within the US Airways Education Foundation," Parker said. McClelland started his aviation carrier as a U.S. Navy pilot. He came to America West in 1999 as its senior vice president of operations. He became the company's executive vice president and chief administrative officer after America West combined with US Airways last year. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 15 01:23:50 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:23:50 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways hires new Washington lobbyist Message-ID: <20060914212250.N26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 14 September 2006 ; Business Journal of Phoenix US Airways hires new Washington lobbyist http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/09/11/daily43.html --- US Airways Group Inc. has hired a lobbyist from Southwest Airlines to spearhead its federal government relations efforts. Tempe-based US Airways (NYSE: LCC) said Thursday it has named Tom Chapman vice president of congressional and federal affairs. Chapman, an attorney, will be in charge of US Airways' Washington D.C. lobbying. He succeeds the retiring Rosemary Murray and will report to senior airline vice president C.A. Howlett. Chapman, 51, currently serves as legislative counsel to Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and set up the Dallas-based carrier's Washington D.C. lobbying office in 1998. US Airways serves 230 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sat Sep 16 13:17:08 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:17:08 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways deploys new software to ease baggage woes Message-ID: <20060916091701.H26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 16 September 2006 ; Charlotte Observer US Airways deploys new software to ease baggage woes http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/15528334.htm --- By Tom Belden INQUIRER STAFF WRITER US Airways is using software developed by Megadata Corp., of Greenwich, Conn., to help improve baggage service and on-time performance at its major airports, including Philadelphia International, Megadata announced today. Megadata's PASSUR applications are designed to give airlines better information about when flights will arrive at a connecting-hub airport, which the carrier uses to help manage the transfer of passengers to other flights, said Ron Dunsky, vice president of marketing and new product development. The system helps airlines decide when to hold a connecting flight for transfer passengers, and get a headstart on booking on the next available flight those who miss connections, Dunsky said. US Airways has a poor reputation among many passengers for its Philadelphia baggage service. Company executives say they're addressing the problem, which they blame on high attrition rates for baggage handlers and the need to replace worn-out equipment. Starting last month, Megadata's software is being used by US Airways to help the airline have adequate staff at airport gates before a flight arrives, both to move loading bridges into place and to unload bags, Dunsky said. "This is about providing a much more accurate and reliable way for the airline to know the status of their airplanes," he said. US Airways also will use the software at its Charlotte, N.C., and Phoenix hubs, and at New York LaGuardia and Washington National airports, Megadata said. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sat Sep 16 13:22:01 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:22:01 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways center competition on 'level playing field' Message-ID: <20060916092153.K26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 16 September 2006 ; Pittsburgh Tribune-Review US Airways center competition on 'level playing field' http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/briefs/s_470780.html --- The three-city competition for US Airways' flight-operation control center "is going to be a level playing field," said Allegheny County Airport Authority Executive Director Kent George on Friday. His assessment came after touring the carrier's center in Phoenix on Thursday and discussing with airline executives US Airways' request for site proposals from Pittsburgh, Charlotte and Phoenix. The airline wants at least 60,000 square feet of space for as many as 600 people in a high-security, single-story building. George said the Pittsburgh proposal was being developed and would be delivered by the airline's Oct. 15 deadline. "We don't want to lose 600 jobs," George said. Currently, US Airways operates a control center in Moon Township, employing 450 people, and one in Phoenix employing 175 which was set up by the airlines' merger partner, America West Airlines. US Airways plans to select its site by February and have the center up and running in late 2008 or early 2009. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sun Sep 17 17:10:34 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:10:34 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways irks some fliers Message-ID: <20060917131022.D26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 17 September 2006 ; The Arizona Republic US Airways irks some fliers http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/0917biz-usairways0917.html --- Frequent travelers cite electronic glitches, poor service By Dawn Gilbertson It was just before 6 a.m. on a Sunday morning last month, and Connie Beane was already fed up with US Airways. The Phoenix aerospace engineer had waited in line at the airline's international ticket counter at Sky Harbor International Airport to check in for the first leg of a business trip to Stockholm, only to be sent to a different line when she made it to the front. "I've had nothing but problems since the merger," Beane fumed at the US Airways employee stationed outside one line to direct traffic. The new US Airways hasn't had any customer catastrophes in its first year, no rampant flight cancellations or chronic delays to send passengers fleeing as they did at America West during a bad spell several years ago. But the Tempe-based airline certainly has garnered more than its share of frustrated frequent fliers. They say they are tired of Web site error messages, irked about scarce first-class upgrades, maddened by customer-service apathy and, like Beane, furious with the computer reservation systems that still treat the airlines separately and necessitate two steps, or worse, at many airports and online. Some travelers say they've taken their business elsewhere. Davis Emburey, a Phoenix-based project manager for a large pharmaceutical company, said he has shifted as many flights as possible to Continental Airlines. Even though most require a connection in Houston, and some are on small planes, he says it's worth it to avoid US Airways. For three years before the merger, he flew America West almost exclusively and logged enough miles to make it to the upper echelon of its frequent-flier program. "If you were a business traveler they were the airline to fly. They don't have the best first class and they don't have the best planes, but they treated their frequent fliers really well," he said. Emburey said he noticed subtle changes at first, like harder-to-get upgrades to first class in part because the pool of frequent fliers competing for the perk ballooned after the merger. Then the airline started charging for drinks in its airport clubs and he found it harder to redeem his frequent-flier miles for free trips. One time, the airline e-mailed him someone else's reservation and first-class upgrade. "Those are little things to most people, but when you travel that much... " he said, it adds up. Juliann Cash, a software technical support analyst in Phoenix who travels for business and vacation, was also a loyal America West customer and urged friends and co-workers to fly the airline. She can't say the same about the new US Airways. She has found it practically impossible to redeem frequent-flier miles without cashing in double the miles. And she says a call to the airline to resolve a problem turns into a two-hour phone conversation. For a business trip to San Diego this week, she'll be traveling on Southwest. She flew Southwest to Las Vegas earlier this year, too. "I was extremely excited, along with a lot of other people I know, when US Airways took over," she said, citing the increased flight choices. "Come to find out, there's nothing to really be excited about. As a matter of fact, it went downhill from there." CEO acknowledges issues US Airways Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker doesn't dispute that there are gripes and concedes the airline botched the Web site and frequent-flier changeover in the spring. He says the airline fully expected some glitches as they combined two major airlines, especially related to the computer systems. Many will linger until the reservation systems are merged next spring. But Parker says there is no evidence the problems have driven away passengers. "We've seen no decrease in our revenue. All we've seen is an increase," he said. "We have a much better airline to sell these days than either airline did before." The airline's recent profits, much larger than expected, support that, although all airlines have seen revenue rise sharply from higher fares and booming traffic. "That's not to say we don't have customer-service issues," Parker added. "If we don't eventually get them addressed, then we run the risk of people avoiding us." The top priority right now: improving baggage handling. The airline was short-staffed in Philadelphia, Phoenix and Charlotte, N.C., this summer, so there were longer waits for baggage and more misrouted bags. There was a passenger revolt in Philadelphia after one long wait for bags last month. Parker said they are working to ensure the problem is not repeated over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Flier advocacy Art Pushkin has been among the old US Airways most frequent fliers for years and in 2002 helped form a customer advocacy group to stay on top of service issues. Its leaders and members have been vocal about the merger challenges, particularly the botched Web site and frequent-flier program changeover. They said US Airways executives were underplaying the problems and generally unresponsive to frequent-flier complaints and concerns. He recently met with some executives and changed his tone. "The message (we got) before that was we're not sure that's a problem," he said. "Now I can say with certainty that they're aware that there's a problem, that there are some issues." Pushkin, who lives on Long Island, N.Y., and travels frequently in his job as a regional manager for a large imaging products company, says the biggest speed bump for him is the Web site. When he tried to check in online for a recent flight, it couldn't find his reservation using either his frequent-flier number or the confirmation code. He also couldn't get a boarding pass for a flight at one of the airline's airport clubs. He said he thinks the new management team "had the greatest intentions in the world" but fell short on the execution. Dan Punk, a regional equipment sales manager who flies out of the airline's Philadelphia hub every week, doesn't have anything to compare the new US Airways to because he started traveling regularly only in February. He took a delayed flight to Charlotte in stride last month and said he changes his flights regularly with ease. "I have no problems with US Airways," he said. Len Gavin, a staff consultant for Bull Services in Phoenix and elite frequent flier with the airline, says the extra phone calls some reservations take for now is a pain. But overall, he takes a longer-term view of the merger. For the first time, he won't have to take two airlines, with inconvenient connections, for business trips to places like Bermuda. "The international flights are going to be great," he said. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sun Sep 17 17:12:49 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:12:49 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] What US Airways employees are saying Message-ID: <20060917131240.O26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 17 September 2006 ; The Arizona Republic What US Airways employees are saying http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0917a-usairways0917voices.html --- What employees say Last summer, America West Airlines Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker traversed the country in a day to rally employees of the soon-to-be new US Airways. The mood was upbeat, especially on the East Coast, where the old US Airways had been on life support. Parker was cheered and treated like a celebrity. Republic business reporter Dawn Gilbertson made the trip in 2005. She did so again a year later, without Parker, to take the current pulse of employees. She hit the combined airline's major cities: Phoenix, Philadelphia, Charlotte, N.C., Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Some workers talked on the record. Many others asked to remain anonymous because of the company's policy against talking to reporters. Plenty of optimism and praise for Parker remains, but there is also a growing sense of frustration about stalled contract negotiations, executive stock sales, looming seniority battles and the slow pace of truly combining the airlines. THE ISSUE: The airline is making money. We deserve and need a raise. "I guarantee you, if Doug Parker was managing the Arizona Diamondbacks and they had the lowest payroll in the league and started winning, they wouldn't have the lowest payroll for long." - Jim Buck, US Airways pilot based in Washington, D.C. "They need to let us get back a little bit." Peter Schroeder, US Airways pilot based in Charlotte. THE ISSUE: Executives are profiting from the merger. Where's our piece? "When Mr. Parker sells all that stock, that is not good PR. It sticks in some people's craw." Steven Garnett, US Airways pilot based in Charlotte. THE ISSUE: One big happy family? "The East (the former US Airways operation) doesn't realize America West is the one that bought the East. They were gone. They think they bought us because we took the name." - A Phoenix-based former America West pilot, arguing that basing seniority on date of hire would not be fair because America West acquired US Airways in bankruptcy. "I think it's pretty unrealistic that they (the America West pilots) can say a guy hired in April should be senior to those of us that have been here for 15, 16, 17 years." - A US Airways pilot on furlough THE OTHER SIDE: I'm happy to have a job. "Eighteen months ago, we never knew what tomorrow was going to bring. When I hear people talk about negative things, it bothers me." - A 10-year gate agent in Pittsburgh "Not that I'm drinking the Kool-Aid, but if Parker hadn't taken over I wouldn't be doing this right now." - Philadelphia flight attendant Michael Kovach, saying the job security from the merger allowed him to buy a second home to rent out to other crew members who need a crash pad. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sun Sep 17 17:14:26 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:14:26 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways honeymoon over Message-ID: <20060917131400.I26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 17 September 2006 ; The Arizona Republic US Airways honeymoon over http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0917a-usairways0917hitsandmissesAR0.html --- The America West-US Airways merger a year ago was greeted with all the enthusiasm of a three-hour flight delay. One skeptic called the combination of the small Phoenix carrier and a bankrupt airline a high-stakes high-wire act without a net. Another said the $1.5 billion deal "has a lot more going against it than for it." And those were the kinder comments. The Tempe-based airline's out-of-the-gate profits, moderate merger hiccups and surging stock price silenced the doubters. Its early success has prompted talk of additional airline mergers, some including the new US Airways in the mix. Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker, one analyst gushed this summer, "has earned the right to toot his own horn." Parker relishes the early success. But as the new US Airways begins its second year, the merger momentum is threatened on several fronts, from labor to the economy to customer service. "They have a lot of heavy lifting ahead of them," said Robert Mann, an industry consultant in New York. Mann was an early critic who called the results remarkable. Parker said he believes the toughest year of the merger is behind the airline and is confident it can handle the challenges ahead. One of the biggest challenges, which is hitting executives sooner than they expected, is labor unrest. The $305 million second-quarter profit that had Wall Street giddy has the airline's pilots, flight attendants, baggage handlers and other frontline employees expecting more money - soon. Those on the former US Airways side saw their pay slashed during two bankruptcy cases. Many America West workers were expecting raises before the merger. Employees on both sides say they won't accept what they're hearing from Parker: that there is little or no money for raises in a combined contract given cost-cutting at other airlines and the industry's still-fragile condition. >From Philadelphia to Phoenix, workers say they want payback from the merger's early success, pointing to the millions of dollars in stock gains by Parker and other top executives since the spring. "If they (US Airways executives) are not careful, they're going to mess up a good thing," said Charlotte, N.C.-based US Airways Capt. Steven Garnett. "I think we're getting close to the end of the honeymoon period." Jack Stephan, chairman of the union representing pilots from the old US Airways, is more blunt: "The honeymoon is over," he said. Employees are angry US Airways, the nation's fifth-largest airline based on passenger counts, can ill afford unhappy workers. It ranked in the bottom half of the industry in on-time arrivals, baggage handling and complaints in July. The pilots are making noise. A small group picketed in Philadelphia this summer. Some pilots on the East Coast are so peeved with the pace and tone of negotiations that they are privately threatening to run up the airline's already sky-high fuel bill by ignoring the company's fuel-saving tactics, and they are not going out of their way to help get planes out on time. Parker said he has seen no evidence of that. But he is concerned about the shift in attitude among many employees, which stands in contrast to the pep rally-like atmosphere a year ago when he was traveling around the country to talk up the merger. Parker blames it mostly on the combined airlines' quicker-than-expected turnaround. The $305 million profit compares with a loss of $46 million for the then-separate airlines a year earlier. "People who went through a lot of pain (at the old US Airways) to save a company now are seeing the company not needing saving, and saying, 'OK, where's mine now?' " he said. "I fully understand that. Our challenge is to go out and explain to them what the company can and can't do, where other airlines are. . . . None of us want to go back to a situation where we get ourselves uncompetitive with other airlines and start losing money again." Parker confidently predicts a happier bunch by this time next year. He repeated his assertion, though, that the airline has contracts covering work groups on each side so it doesn't have to rush the talks. Wouldn't the airline lose out on some of the much-touted financial benefits of combining the America West and US Airways workforces? "Not as much as we're being asked to (pay) to put the two contracts together," he said. "Not even close." Betsy Snyder will be watching how events unfold. The Standard & Poor's airline credit analyst said labor negotiations are "still a big question that has to be resolved." She said a profit-sharing payout should help morale among the 35,000 employees, given how few airlines besides Southwest have them anymore. US Airways will pay out 10 percent of its full-year pre-tax profit. The airline forecasts a profit for the third quarter and full year, and the fat second quarter certainly gives it a big cushion if it's off target. Employees aren't counting on it, though, given the airline industry's notorious ups and downs. US Airways, like most airlines recently, has seen a resurgence because travel demand is booming and airlines have cut flights inside and outside of Bankruptcy Court. The imbalance has allowed airlines to raise fares repeatedly. The question lately, though, is can it continue? Airlines have repeatedly said yes, that they have not seen resistance to higher fares. But a new obstacle has emerged in the past month: the foiled London terrorist plot and tighter security rules. US Airways, Southwest and other airlines have nudged their revenue forecasts lower for the third quarter as business travel in particular took a hit. Parker said it's unclear whether it's a short-term blip because of the security hassles or a broader falloff due to a slowing economy. The airline is closely watching business-travel bookings for clues. "A slowing economy, which some are suggesting, is something all airlines are concerned about," Parker said. On the plus side: Oil prices have been retreating. Fits for frequent fliers While Wall Street zeroes in on the big economic picture, US Airways passengers will be watching the little things. The airline has admittedly given some frequent fliers fits on the phone, online and at the airport since the merger, though the angst hasn't translated to lower ticket sales. The biggest snafu occurred in the spring, when the airlines merged their frequent-flier programs and Web sites. Passengers found glitches galore, like being unable to book a flight or look up account information. They flooded the airline's reservations center with complaints and questions. Parker said that situation is resolved, though frequent fliers report lingering irritation. A problem clearly exists: different check-in lines and customer-service assistance depending on what computer system a reservation is booked through and which airline, America West or US Airways, is operating the flight. Phoenix business traveler Davis Emburey, a project manager for a pharmaceutical company, got tangled up in the mess six weeks ago. He checked in for his Philadelphia flight at a kiosk he had used often with America West. This was a US Airways-operated flight, though, so he was sent to a ticket counter. After a wait in that line, he was sent to a tucked-away counter at the end of the terminal, which handles the US Airways-operated flights. He said it took him 45 minutes to check in, compared with about five minutes at a kiosk. "I know that airport and I know America West and I still got stuck doing that," Emburey said. "This has just got to be great for people that don't know how it works." The root of the problem is two separate computer reservations systems. The airline won't go to a single system until March at the earliest. But Parker said the airline hopes to avoid most confusion for customers before then with systems that will allow agents at major airports to toggle back and forth between the two systems. Also, they are moving the operations as close together as possible at its major airports. "It's a big problem," Parker said. "I'd be upset, too." More deals possible? The work ahead hasn't deterred Parker from throwing US Airways' hat in the ring should other airline deals crop up. He has acknowledged talking to Delta, which is operating in Bankruptcy Court. Northwest, another bankrupt carrier, also has come up. Parker won't say if he's pursuing any deal but said it would be irresponsible to rule it out. "Clearly, if we could stop time and make everyone else stand still until we got done with our work, that's our preferred solution," he said. "That clearly is not an option. The world moves around us, and we can't ignore it." From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Mon Sep 18 21:14:31 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:14:31 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways adds Charlotte-White Plains flight Message-ID: <20060918171421.L26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 18 September 2006 ; Charlotte Business Journal US Airways adds Charlotte-White Plains flight http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2006/09/18/daily2.html --- US Airways Group Inc. will launch three daily flights between its Charlotte hub and White Plains, N.Y., beginning Dec. 3. White Plains is about 30 minutes north of New York City. "This new route will allow our Northeast customers to have conveniently timed connections through Charlotte to and from our extensive list of destinations in the South," says Andrew Nocella, senior vice president of scheduling, planning and alliances. The service complements five daily round-trip flights between Philadelphia and White Plains, as well as three daily round-trip flights from both Washington, D.C., and Boston to White Plains. Service from Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, US Airways' largest hub, will be operated by US Airways Express carrier Air Wisconsin using 50-seat aircraft. US Airways (NYSE:LCC) is the fifth-largest domestic airline. The Arizona-based carrier operates 3,800 flights per day to more than 230 destinations in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Sep 20 21:31:53 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:31:53 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] In Airlineland, workers in too big a hurry to cash in Message-ID: <20060920173144.N26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 20 September 2006 ; Houston Chronicle In Airlineland, workers in too big a hurry to cash in http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/4199898.html --- By LOREN STEFFY Return with me now to that strange and backward dimension known as Airlineland. When last we visited, some of the country's biggest carriers were awash in losses and bankruptcy. That hasn't changed a whole lot, but one airline has offered a rare glimmer of hope amid this bleak landscape. A year ago, America West bought US Airways, which had been battered by back-to-back bankruptcies. Airline mergers have a dismal success record -- only one in the past 18 has gone smoothly -- and few observers, myself included, thought this union would be much different. But the reborn US Airways has, in its early stages at least, defied its critics. Its share price has more than doubled in the past year, and it posted a second-quarter profit of $305 million. That's more than its biggest rivals -- American, Continental or United -- reported for the same period. No one, including US Airways, expected profitability so soon. "The fact that we made some money is a delightful surprise for a lot of people," spokeswoman Andrea Rader says. This, though, is Airlineland, where bright spots quickly fade. In Airlineland, the old dogs not only can't seem to learn new tricks, they can't seem to avoid the same mistakes. Now that US Airways has dipped its toe in profitability, its employees are agitating for more money as they try to meld the two employee groups under one set of contracts. Looking for raises Workers from the old US Airways, in particular, want raises to offset the pay they lost during the two bankruptcies. "People who went through a lot of pain to save a company now are seeing the company not needing saving, and saying, 'OK, where's mine now?' " Chief Executive Doug Parker told the Associated Press. "I fully understand that. Our challenge is to go out and explain to them what the company can and can't do." One of the things it can't do is start giving raises at the first hint of success. "A little bit of profit from an airline, you really have to take with a grain of salt," Rader says. "You don't want to do the things that get you right back to where you started." Such talk isn't sitting well with employees of the old US Airways, who gave up more than $1 billion in pay and benefits during the last bankruptcy. Steven Garnett, a pilot based in Charlotte, N.C., told the Associated Press that the airline's management could "mess up a good thing." "I think we're getting to the end of the honeymoon period," he said. Some of that, of course, is the typical posturing that precedes any contract talks, but it's in sharp contrast to the hugs and smiles that marked the merger last year. Back then, the unions for both airlines vowed to work together to meld seniority lists, despite the huge gap between employees at the two companies. The most junior US Airways pilot, for example, has 17 years with the company, while the most junior America West pilot has only a year or two. Seniority makes it difficult for pilots and other employees to change companies. Pilots with greater seniority typically make more money, get to fly larger jets and often get better route assignments. Many pilots from the old US Airways who were laid off in bankruptcy have more seniority than America West pilots who are still flying. Employees of the old US Airways haven't seen profits in years, so it's understandable that as contract talks begin they'd want to regain some of what they've lost. It's still not clear, though, that the recent improvement is sustainable. Earlier this month, several carriers, including US Airways, said that tighter security measures after a terror scare in London crimped revenue at the tail end of the lucrative summer travel season. Costs also up Perhaps more ominous, though, is that US Airways' profit was accompanied by an increase in costs. Even excluding fuel, its expenses increased 7 percent. Speaking of fuel, after a fall of almost $20 a barrel in the past month, oil prices are just now nearing the $60 price on which the merger was based. All of which means that if this merger is going to continue to defy the odds, employees are going to have to wait longer for their payback. If it's going to have a future, US Airways must break free of the past. Make no mistake, its employees sacrificed a lot to keep their company flying, and they made those concessions with the promise that someday they would be rewarded. But that day is not today. Today, the company remains firmly entrenched in Airlineland, where success is fleeting and the troubles of the past are never far away. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 22 00:05:04 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:05:04 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways pilots plan to picket over labor contract Message-ID: <20060921200417.O26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 21 September 2006 ; The Arizona Republic US Airways pilots plan to picket over labor contract http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0921usairways-pilots21-ON.html --- Chris Kahn Associated Press After haggling for months over a joint labor contract, pilots for the newly formed US Airways Group Inc. said Thursday they will begin a series of protests at airports around the country. The Tempe-based airline, formed last year when America West Airlines acquired the former US Airways, doesn't want to pay more money in salaries as pilots merge contracts. But union officials say this would be tough on America West pilots, who currently have more lucrative contracts than their counterparts at US Airways. A merger could force them to receive less - a frustrating development given that the company posted a $305 million profit last quarter, union officials say. "To force our pilots into a paycut is ridiculous, especially at a time when we're making money," said Tania Bziukiewicz, a union spokeswoman and US Airways pilot. Bziukiewicz said the pilots will begin picketing airports Nov. 16 to mark the one year anniversary of the start of labor negotiations. The union hasn't decided where to protest, she said, but it's likely the pickets will be at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix and Philadelphia International Airport. "We expect more of these events as necessary," Bziukiewicz said. US Airways spokesman Phil Gee said the company respects the pilots' right to voice their opinions in public. But Gee pointed out that the company's desire to keep the joint pilots contract "cost neutral" doesn't necessarily mean that anyone will have to take a paycut. The union could preserve - or possibly increase - pilot salaries if it agreed to curtail overtime, vacations or other benefits that cost money, Gee said. "For instance, they may make more money, but they could have less flexibility in trips," he said. "They may make more money but have less vacation time." The unions represent 1,750 active America West pilots and 2,850 active US Airways pilots. America West pilots, whose contracts currently are due for new negotiations, have considered breaking away and demanding more pay on their own. But Bziukiewicz said they decided they would have more influence if they joined with US Airways. Representatives from both unions met earlier this month and told pilots of the plan this week in a joint statement. "Our pilot groups will stand tall and walk together," the statement said. "It is clear that any gains we achieve will only be the result of a hard-fought battle." From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Sat Sep 23 14:22:29 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 10:22:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] United Airlines quest for D.C.-Beijing route draws US Airways support Message-ID: <20060923102223.D26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 23 September 2006 ; Business Journal of Phoenix United Airlines quest for D.C.-Beijing route draws US Airways support http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2006/09/18/daily58.html --- US Airways Group Inc. is supporting an application being put forward by United Airlines to launch service between Washington D.C. and Beijing. Chicago-based United (NASDAQ: UAUA) wants fly directly from Washington Dulles International Airport and Chinese capital. Tempe-based US Airways has a code share agreement with United which coordinated schedules and reservation systems. United already flies to China from Chicago and San Francisco. US Airways is adding those existing Chinese flights to its code sharing system. The U.S. Department of Transportation is considering United's D.C. to China flight plans and the service would begin in March 2007 if approved. US Airways (NYSE: LCC) has international flights to Europe, Mexico and the Caribbean but not Asia. The airline serves 230 destinations. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Sep 27 11:31:23 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 07:31:23 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways: Steep Cuts For Syracuse Fares Message-ID: <20060927073049.L26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 27 September 2006 ; Syracuse Post-Standard US Airways: Steep Cuts For Syracuse Fares http://www.syracuse.com/business/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/business-5/1159347503188270.xml --- The average drop is about 30 percent, with no overnight requirements. By Rick Moriarty Staff writer US Airways will announce today it is slashing airfares from Syracuse to 43 cities, including major business destinations, by up to 65 percent in a bid to attract passengers. The airline is cutting its walkup fares those charged to last-minute, usually business customers and fares aimed at leisure travelers. The reductions range from 9 percent to 65 percent, with the average about 30 percent. Among business destinations, last-minute fares for round-trip flights between Boston and Syracuse will fall from $618 to $298. The cost of flying to Atlanta and back will drop from $858 to $558. Flying to and from Washington, D.C., will go from $728 to $488. US Airways also is dropping from its Syracuse fares any overnight-stay requirements so-called "price fences" that airlines have traditionally used to keep business travelers from getting the lowest fares. The lower fares are not available on all seats on all flights to the 43 cities. Fares on some flights with extremely high demand at peak travel times, such as Friday evenings and Monday mornings, will not change. But the airline said the lower fares will be widely available. The move is risky for US Airways, Hancock Airport's dominant carrier with 32 percent of the market. If the lower fares do not attract enough new customers, the airline could lose substantial revenue in Syracuse. Tom Trenga, vice president of revenue management for the airline, said the carrier is counting on the fares to attract people who otherwise would drive to their destinations; take flights on discount carriers, like AirTran out of Rochester and Southwest out of Buffalo; or not travel at all. "We hope to make more money doing this," he said. US Airways emerged from its second reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court and a year ago merged with America West, based in Phoenix, Ariz. The union with America West made it the nation's fifth-largest airline, employing 35,000 people. It operates 31 daily flights from Syracuse. The airline has made similar across-the-board fare cuts in two other cities: in February in Greensboro, N.C., and in August in Huntsville, Ala. Trenga said the move was successful in Greensboro. In Huntsville, it's "too early to call," he said. He said the airline decided to try it in Syracuse because US Airways officials think it can attract enough new passengers here to make it work and because of a commitment by the city and its business leadership to promote the new fares. "We're confident the city is behind it," he said. Mayor Matt Driscoll said the city and the Metropolitan Development Association will help get the word out by spending $50,000 on a print, billboard and online advertising campaign. The money is coming from a U.S. Department of Transportation grant and donations from Central New York businesses. Driscoll and Irwin Davis, president of the Metropolitan Development Association, met in May with US Airways executives in Phoenix and asked them to lower fares in Syracuse. They were thrilled when the airline, after crunching some numbers, agreed. "This is a huge step," said Driscoll. "They're our dominant carrier." Davis said the fare cuts will make Syracuse more attractive to businesses whose employees must fly a lot. "It makes it a lot easier for people to do business from Syracuse," he said. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Wed Sep 27 20:45:45 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2006 16:45:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways Sees Peak Fuel Costs in 3Q Message-ID: <20060927164537.F26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 27 September 2006 ; MSN Money (AP) US Airways Sees Peak Fuel Costs in 3Q http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20060927&ID=6057235 --- NEW YORK (AP) - US Airways Group Inc. on Wednesday said it expects fuel costs to peak for the year in the third quarter, then fall in the fourth quarter. For the third quarter, the parent of US Airways and America West said it has hedged about 44 percent of its mainline fuel and expects to pay between $2.18 and $2.33 per gallon of jet fuel. Fuel costs are expected to drop further in the fourth quarter, to between $2 and $2.05, including hedges. The Tempe, Ariz.-based company paid an average of $1.92 per gallon of jet fuel in the first quarter this year and paid $2.14 on average in the second quarter. The airline also said it expects capacity growth in the third quarter, with available seat miles estimated at 20.2 billion, up from 19.6 billion in the second quarter. However, capacity is expected to shrink slightly to 19 billion available seat miles in the fourth quarter. Mainline operations include both US Airways and America West Airlines flights and exclude the company's regional US Airways Express. At the quarter's end, the company said it had about $3.2 billion in total cash, including $2.2 billion in unrestricted cash. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Sep 28 11:11:58 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 07:11:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] 1st anniversary for US Airways merger Message-ID: <20060928071151.H26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 28 September 2006 ; Charlotte Observer 1st anniversary for US Airways merger http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/15622003.htm --- By STEVE HARRISON US Airways has good news on the one-year anniversary of its acquisition by America West Airlines: Its fuel costs peaked in the third quarter and are projected to drop in the fourth quarter. The Tempe, Ariz.-based airline said today it will pay between $2.18 and $2.23 a gallon for fuel in the third quarter after paying $1.92 in the first quarter and $2.14 in the second quarter. It projects it will pay between $2 and $2.05 in the fourth quarter. Nearly half of the airline's fuel -- 44 percent -- has been hedged. That means the airline bought it a lower price. The airline said it will fly 20.2 billion seat miles, up from 19.6 in the second quarter. That's projected to drop to 19 billion seat miles in the fourth quarter. US Airways Group is trying to fully merge the two airlines over the next six months. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Thu Sep 28 11:12:58 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2006 07:12:58 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] Wal-Mart To Provide Storage Bag Solution To US Airways Customers Message-ID: <20060928071248.O26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 28 September 2006 ; Trading Markets Wal-Mart To Provide Storage Bag Solution To US Airways Customers http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/BREAKING%20NEWS/426049/ --- Quick News (RTTNews) - Wednesday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) announced that it has derived a solution to US Airways travelers, as the Transportation Security Administration allows passengers to carry on three liquid ounces in sealed plastic bags. Starting September 28, the company will provide quart-size Storage Bags by Ziploc to passengers throughout the week at US Airways check-in counters in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Boston, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Charlotte From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 29 10:57:46 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 06:57:46 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways FAs Unhappy With Negotiations Message-ID: <20060929065705.O26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 29 September 2006 ; Aero-News Network US Airways FAs Unhappy With Negotiations http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=bbcf478b-95a8-40e4-bdbd-2e9b3552d463 --- Plans For Protest Picketing Pondered We deserve more, so says US Airways Flight Attendants. A year after the merger between America West Airlines and US Airways, flight attendants from both companies are likely to join the growing ranks of picketing airline workers. Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) leaders say the merger between the airlines hasn't panned out for them, citing sluggish negotiations, low wages, and broken promises. Gary Richardson and Mike Flores, union presidents for flight attendants at America West and US Airways respectively, released a joint statement on Thursday outlining their grievances with the management team overseeing the merger. They say the airline is making a profit and paying management lucrative bonuses and leaving flight attendants out in the cold. "Last year, management said that this merger would make sense for America West flight attendants," said Richardson. "Instead, this merger has meant broken promises, stagnant wages, and salaries among the lowest in the industry for America West flight attendants." Flores said US Airways flight attendants gave what he called "staggering concessions" to save the airline, and management hasn't recognized that contribution. "Instead of a positive relationship and starting fresh, this management team threatens long-standing contract language and practices. They are paving the way for a very unhappy marriage." "Eight months into negotiations for a merged contract, and the company cannot make the hard decisions in the non-economic contract sections," added Flores. "This portends a very difficult struggle in the future over contract provisions that mean the most to our members, including compensation and scheduling." As a result, AFA plans to picket in protest at US Airways' seven bases in Boston, Charlotte, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York and Washington, DC. You may remember last week we reported American Airlines' pilot union reps making eerily similar statements. They said pilots had made large concessions to keep America's largest airline out of bankruptcy, concessions they saw as an investment in the company for which they now want a return. You can be sure we'll see more labor relations difficulties while America's resurgent airline industry continues its recovery -- and workers who feel they gave to keep an industry flying will now look to get some back. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 29 10:58:38 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 06:58:38 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] Smaller profits forecast for US Airways Message-ID: <20060929065831.Q26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 29 September 2006 ; Charlotte Observer Smaller profits forecast for US Airways http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/business/15631178.htm --- By STEVE HARRISON Despite lower fuel costs, banker JP Morgan predicted smaller profits for US Airways in the second half of this year. In an analyst's report today, JP Morgan said costs of higher airport staffing and a poor record for losing luggage could offset lower fuel prices. The airline Wednesday said it expects its fuel prices to peak in the third quarter at between $2.18 and $2.23 a gallon, and then drop to between $2 and $2.05 in the fourth quarter. One problem for US Airways is that nearly half of its fuel for the fourth quarter is hedged at a higher price than what's projected to be the market price for jet fuel. The bank's original forecast for the second half was earnings between $1.43 and $1.50 a share, but that was reduced to between $1.09 and $1.26. From usairways at vision.moundalexis.com Fri Sep 29 11:05:11 2006 From: usairways at vision.moundalexis.com (Daily US Airways News) Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 07:05:11 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [US Airways] US Airways names new president Message-ID: <20060929070500.B26528-100000@vision.moundalexis.com> 29 September 2006 ; Travel Daily News US Airways names new president http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=32705 --- US Airways' Board of Directors has elected Scott Kirby to the position of president, effective Oct. 1, 2006. Kirby, 39, currently serves as the airline`s executive vice president, sales and marketing. In his new role, he will retain his current oversight of pricing, scheduling/planning, marketing, alliances, distribution, reservations and information technologies. He also assumes new responsibilities, which include airport customer service, finance and labor relations. Kirby will continue to report to Chairman and CEO Doug Parker. Parker said, "We congratulate Scott on his appointment, which recognizes his significant and substantial contributions to our airline. Scott is a dedicated, tenacious and extremely talented executive who played a critical role in the merger efforts between America West and US Airways in 2005, and continues to oversee and lead our integration plan. Under Scott`s leadership, the former America West transformed industry pricing in early 2003, which resulted in industry-leading revenue improvements. Scott possesses exceptional analytical skills and drives change effectively throughout our airline. We look forward to Scott`s continued and expanded contributions to the new US Airways." "In addition, we have made additional changes to our leadership team and in keeping with our efficient, low cost model, the announced management team changes result in one fewer officer-level positions at our airline." Kirby joined the former America West Airlines in 1995 as senior director, scheduling and planning. He was promoted to vice president, planning in October 1997. In May 1998, Kirby was named vice president, revenue management and in early 2000, Kirby was elected senior vice president, e-business. Prior to joining America West, Kirby served as an operations research consultant for Sabre Decision Technologies (SDT), a subsidiary of AMR Corp. During his three-year tenure at SDT, Kirby consulted with various airlines in Europe and the United States regarding scheduling and yield management. Previously, he served as an economist in the Under Secretary of Defense- Program Acquisition and Evaluation Office at the Pentagon. Kirby earned bachelor degrees in computer science and operations research from the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds a Master of Science degree in operations research from George Washington University. The airline also promoted Captain Ed Bular to the position of senior vice president, flight operations/inflight. In this expanded role, Captain Bular will continue to oversee the airline`s flight operations department and will expand his responsibilities to include inflight services. The company`s vice president of inflight services, Ron Cole, has announced he will retire from the airline and Cole`s replacement, who will report to Bular, will be named shortly. Bular continues to report to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Al Crellin, who said, "We are extremely pleased to expand Ed`s responsibilities to include our terrific flight attendant and catering teams. Ed`s extensive flight operations experience has proven invaluable during the first year of our merger. His vast expertise will continue to lead our integration efforts, which are especially important as we begin year two of our integration and move towards a single operating certificate." Bular, 54, began his aviation career in the Air Force and flew T-37s, T-38s, T-33s, A-7s, B-52s and KC-135s. He hired on as a line pilot with USAir in 1980, and has subsequently held the positions of check airman; designated FAA examiner; manager, flight training; assistant chief pilot; senior director, flight operations; and vice president, flight operations. Bular is has been flight qualified on the Boeing 727, 737, 757 and 767 as well as the McDonnell Douglas DC-9, and is currently qualified to operate the Airbus A330. Bular retired from the military after seven years of active duty and 13 years in the air national guard. He holds a bachelor of science in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical College in Daytona Beach, Fla. The airline also promoted Associate General Counsel and Managing Director, Legal Michael J. Minerva to the position of vice president, legal. Minerva, 41, will continue to report to Janet Dhillon, senior vice president and general counsel. Mike has 12 years of aviation industry experience all within US Airways. After three years in private law practice, he started his career in 1994 as vice president, human resources for Piedmont Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of US Airways Group, Inc. In 1999 Mike joined US Airways as director, labor relations. Mike holds a law degree from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. and a bachelor`s degree from Lake Forest College in Illinois. Dhillon said, "Mike`s aptitude for the airline industry coupled with his knowledge and experience at US Airways is invaluable. He is a well-respected leader within our legal team and we congratulate him on this well-deserved promotion." Additional organizational changes include: * Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Al Crellin will assume additional responsibilities for the airline`s two wholly owned subsidiaries, PSA and Piedmont. * Senior Vice President, Customer Service Anthony Mule will assume additional responsibilities for the airline`s reservations department and cargo operations. * Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr will assume additional responsibilities of the airline`s corporate real estate (properties and facilities) functions. * Elise Eberwein, currently the airline`s senior vice president, corporate communications, will assume additional responsibilities for human resources. Her new title, senior vice president, people, communication and culture, will reflect those expanded duties. Parker concluded, "We have a talented team of executives who are unwavering in their dedication to our airline and our employees. Each member brings a unique perspective and a broad range of experiences and skill sets, and we look forward to working together to continue to build the new US Airways."