Interview with CFO Andrew Levy
 

Article link here

Looks like new CFO Andrew Levy sat down and chatted with Bloomberg about a number of items. Notable points are:

-Looking at swapping out the A350-1000 order for A350-900 and/or A330s

-Looking at the 737 Max 10X

-Replacing the deferred 73Gs with Max 8s and/or Max 9s

-Unlikely to scrap any jet orders outright as it is very costly

-He likes the C-Series but is not sure if there's a 'place' for the aircraft in the wider fleet

-Rethinking share repurchase plan in light of rising fuel costs and higher costs from new labor deal

Kind of interesting that there's no mention of looking at the A321neo as a possible 757 replacement and focusing (potentially) on the Max 10X instead.

Interesting. I can see us keeping the A350 orders as well as ordering the A330 (both 800/900) .

Pretty specific and candid... the A330-900 is the clear winner of the 330NEO family, with a massive order advantage to the -800. The NEO is less capital-intensive to acquire than A350/787, but still comes with pretty favorable economics relative to current-gen (767/777) aircraft. The A339 would make a great TATL 777 replacement.

When will they ever make up their mind with what they want in their fleet? Have they considered some DC-8s in the desert for 757 replacements too?

New CEO, new BOD, new management team with no 'sacred cows' (hate to borrow a Smisek line), so it is unsurprising that fleet planning decisions of previous regimes are under review.

Not gonna take credit but that was my direct appeal to Oscar in June.

Save the cash for a rainy day - the next cycle is the one United should position to win.

I'm thinking the A350 order will be scrapped, and the 77W order increased by about 12-20 frames. I don't see much of a future for Airbus aircraft in the UA fleet.

Hopefully UA can push Boeing to build a capable MAX10, and I'd love to see a CSeries order. UA could almost name their own price at this point.

Article says they don't plan to cancel any orders. And Kirby is partly running things now and both AA and before that US have/had big Airbus orders.

UA wish its all aircrafts are Boeing's :D

As do many of its customers who simply do not like Airbus in any form. I would be very happy to see all Airbus orders converted to more 777s. How many seats will they try and cram in the A330s? 10 across at 17"?

No, they do that with with your beloved 777s.

No, that's the heritage CO's point of view with interlocking directorates (i.e. CO board members from Boeing, Boeing board members on CO's Board).

UACO should try to get the best deal it can for the frames it thinks it needs - not just what Boeing and/or Airbus are selling this decade.

Or be like Delta and figure out how to get the best out your fleet with maximal reliability.

Besides, as CFO, Levy's going to be focused on cash flow.

David

I'm still thinking an A321neoLR order, possibly in exchange for a A350-1000 cancellation, is most likely. They're going to need a 757 replacement for P.S. and TATL when the price of fuel goes up, and the 737 isn't going to be it.

AA is dumping the mad dogs. Could probably pick them up for a song.