Does anyone know what kind of loads DH is getting on the IAD-FL A319 routes? Are they getting better then the 50%+- that they are getting system wide? Thanks
GWU

Over the busy holiday travel period almost all the A319s have been full... like completely full, all seats sold. But since this is traditionally the time when everyone travels those numbers probably aren't representive of what you will see in January, but at least that is more exposure for DH.

All of the 319's? I thought they only had one.

Yeah, DH has 4 airbus on property and more slated for delivery starting next month if I am not mistaken. Right now they are only used for IAD - MCO and IAD - TPA runs, and one flight a day IAD - BOS. Look for IAD - PBI and IAD - RSW service on the airbus starting in February. ^

So what happens to these mainline jets if Indy decides to go back into Mama UA's arms?

That is part of the reason I believe that the whole turn-tale and run back to UAL was blown WAY out of proportion. Per the UAL pilot's contract no express carrier can fly planes with more than 50 seats (correct me if I am wrong). Air Wisconsin has some planes that were grandfathered in, but there is no way those airbus will ever be part of an ACA / UEX fleet, because of that and other reasons. More than likely in the DH bid to UAL there is a provision for similtaneous operations of DH and UEX flying at the same time. And considering the competition in IAD right now, I think that would go over like a turd in a punch bowl with UAL.

Of course, seeing how UA is trying to rip up their union contracts, I wouldn't put it past them to try to by-pass something like that. "Mama UA" is pretty dysfunctional.

I admit to my hidden agenda when asking these questions. I was hoping those 319's would end up on the open market. HP could use them.

Hopefully a UA pilot can clear up the contract specifics, but UAX flies some ERJ-170 and CRJ-700s with 70 seats, which are quite new. IIRC they have a set number of the # of 70 seat jets UAX can operate.