UA to use fewer but larger planes from ORD
Nov 11, 2014, 2:27 pm
#1
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UA to use fewer but larger planes from ORD
United Airlines intends to supersize its rides at O'Hare and create multiple rush hours during the day — moves it says will benefit passengers and make the airline more money at the same time.
Story here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...ry.html#page=1
Story here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...ry.html#page=1
Nov 11, 2014, 2:33 pm
#3
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Some interesting quotes
and
Part of the increase appears to be bigger RJs
While the number of United departures at O'Hare will drop 8 percent next year, larger planes will carry up to 10 percent more seats during some months, according to Jim Compton, United's chief revenue officer.
"Our actual peak capacity in Chicago will be up as a result of this exercise even though departures will be down," Znotins said.
"Our actual peak capacity in Chicago will be up as a result of this exercise even though departures will be down," Znotins said.
United already flies 18 E175's from O'Hare. By next summer, the airline will be using about 50, Znotins said.
For passengers, that means wider seats, wider aisles, bigger overhead bins, onboard Wi-Fi and inclusion of first-class.
For passengers, that means wider seats, wider aisles, bigger overhead bins, onboard Wi-Fi and inclusion of first-class.
Nov 11, 2014, 2:43 pm
#4
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I can tell you that I'd appreciate the opportunity to fly more CR7s/E70/E75 out of CVG. It seems random - some days ORD, IAH, and DEN are all CRJ/ERJ. For others, some of the early morning/evening ORD departures are CR7s. But always seems to be 8 flights. Can't figure out a pattern by day (same with DEN). I just hope it doesn't affect choice of flights too much.
Wonder when the new schedules with this new banking will be out. Interested to see how it looks.
Wonder when the new schedules with this new banking will be out. Interested to see how it looks.
Nov 11, 2014, 2:46 pm
#5
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I like the E-175 so this is positive news even though it's still a RJ.
What I find interesting is that UA can spin anything as customer-friendly. When they were loading up on smaller RJ's, the customer benefited from more flights per day and the flexibility the greater volume provided.
Seems like either way, half your customers benefit and half are inconvenienced.
In fact, I'd say the majority of customers, non-elites, probably care about schedule more than aircraft. I can state for a fact that most of my family and friends don't know the difference until they're at the gate, or even until they board.
But for me...a change I like!
What I find interesting is that UA can spin anything as customer-friendly. When they were loading up on smaller RJ's, the customer benefited from more flights per day and the flexibility the greater volume provided.
Seems like either way, half your customers benefit and half are inconvenienced.
In fact, I'd say the majority of customers, non-elites, probably care about schedule more than aircraft. I can state for a fact that most of my family and friends don't know the difference until they're at the gate, or even until they board.
But for me...a change I like!
Nov 11, 2014, 2:49 pm
#6
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Hmm, I'm seeing the opposite trend in the schedule as of Nov 1:
Even just looking at express it's staying the same size on average:
Code:
carrier | origin | month | avg_seats ---------+--------+------------+----------- UA | ORD | 2014-11-01 | 88.9 UA | ORD | 2014-12-01 | 88.6 UA | ORD | 2015-01-01 | 89.6 UA | ORD | 2015-02-01 | 87.4 UA | ORD | 2015-03-01 | 87.5 UA | ORD | 2015-04-01 | 85.9 UA | ORD | 2015-05-01 | 85.2 UA | ORD | 2015-06-01 | 85.6 UA | ORD | 2015-07-01 | 85.7 UA | ORD | 2015-08-01 | 85.3 UA | ORD | 2015-09-01 | 84.9 UA | ORD | 2015-10-01 | 84.9
Code:
carrier | operators | origin | month | avg_seats ---------+-------------------+--------+------------+----------- UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2014-11-01 | 56.2 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2014-12-01 | 56.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-01-01 | 57.2 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-02-01 | 57.0 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-03-01 | 55.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-04-01 | 55.7 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-05-01 | 55.7 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-06-01 | 55.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-07-01 | 55.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-08-01 | 55.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-09-01 | 55.6 UA | AX EV G7 OO S5 YV | ORD | 2015-10-01 | 55.6
Nov 11, 2014, 3:00 pm
#7
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Given that UA just gave 2015 domestic capacity guidance last week stating it would only increase between .5 and 1.5% over this year and the quote that says at peak times there will be more seats, that gives them a lot of leeway. If they define peak time as the day before Thanksgiving from 9AM to 10AM, then they can offer a few more seats on this day and the rest of the year offer less and still not be telling an untruth.
Nov 11, 2014, 3:18 pm
#9
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I deeply miss the ORD-SFO 744, always fun, especially when it was the N194UA "pulled out of the desert" configuration.
Right now, the widebodies are elsewhere -- IAH-DEN, IAH-SFO, IAH-EWR. Ah well.
Right now, the widebodies are elsewhere -- IAH-DEN, IAH-SFO, IAH-EWR. Ah well.
Nov 11, 2014, 3:25 pm
#10
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I wish we could have at least one 777 on ORD-SFO. I miss the ORD-SFO 10AM flight, and the SFO-ORD at 1pm. Wish those would come back.
Nov 11, 2014, 3:34 pm
#12
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Back on topic though, I actually am happy with the 170's and 175's. Wifi aside, I find them more comfortable than the Airbii and the 737's. I realize others may not agree, but when my option was a c700/e145, I would take a 737 if possible. But this may give me better choices, IMO.
Nov 11, 2014, 3:43 pm
#13
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Nov 11, 2014, 4:23 pm
#14
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Do you think they might be rolling this out progressively, both as a matter of receiving more E75s, and as an issue of limiting the scope of change (trying not to crash fares or connectivity)? It might be interesting to revisit the data in two or three months.
Nov 11, 2014, 4:38 pm
#15
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Code:
carrier | origin | month | avg_seats | erj | e70 | e75 | cr7 | crj ---------+--------+------------+-----------+------+------+-----+------+------ UA | ORD | 2014-11-01 | 56.2 | 5148 | 1217 | 511 | 1943 | 2365 UA | ORD | 2014-12-01 | 56.6 | 5142 | 1334 | 566 | 1909 | 2065 UA | ORD | 2015-01-01 | 57.2 | 4659 | 1293 | 661 | 1814 | 1812 UA | ORD | 2015-02-01 | 57.0 | 4290 | 1154 | 405 | 2076 | 1803 UA | ORD | 2015-03-01 | 55.6 | 5142 | 972 | 48 | 2526 | 2233 UA | ORD | 2015-04-01 | 55.7 | 5318 | 1144 | 17 | 2545 | 2229 UA | ORD | 2015-05-01 | 55.7 | 5550 | 1213 | 13 | 2598 | 2325 UA | ORD | 2015-06-01 | 55.6 | 5693 | 1206 | 8 | 2622 | 2298 UA | ORD | 2015-07-01 | 55.6 | 5892 | 1247 | 8 | 2719 | 2377 UA | ORD | 2015-08-01 | 55.6 | 5719 | 1223 | 6 | 2662 | 2342 UA | ORD | 2015-09-01 | 55.6 | 5442 | 1170 | 0 | 2531 | 2261 UA | ORD | 2015-10-01 | 55.6 | 5564 | 1199 | 0 | 2601 | 2319