MFEFlyer From United States, joined Aug 2005, 362 posts, RR: 2 Reply 1, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2055 times:
Also A.netters, I know it's not the topic, if you could give me info about CO's A300b4's.
Did they fly translantic as well?
ANd what was the point of this aircraft in CO's fleet?
Commavia From United States, joined Apr 2005, 6810 posts, RR: 59 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1979 times:
Quoting MFEFlyer (Thread starter): Did the A300's ever fly translantic to Europe or anything similar?
Yes. AA flew A300s to Europe from approximately 1992-1993 until 2003.
AA had a small subfleet of 8-10 A300s that were configured in a special 3-class configuration (unlike AA's standard 2-class A300 configuration). These planes were used as a stop-gap measure until AA could put 777s into use. They covered BOS-LHR and about half of the JFK-LHR flights for years.
For most of their life, these planes flew only from the northeast (BOS and JFK) to LHR. That was the primary role they served from about 1996 on. However, they did fly on other routes to Europe (BOS-LGW and BOS-ORY for brief periods throughout their use by AA on transatlantic routes.
The planes were, however, returned to a standard 2-class layout and pulled off transatlantic routes in 2003 and have not returned since. And they never will.
Avianca From Peru, joined Jan 2005, 4951 posts, RR: 47 Reply 7, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1971 times:
Quoting Legacy135 (Reply 4): As far as I know, this was an heritage from Eastern Air Lines. The A300B4 normally could not go transatlantic as it did not have the range for.
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 61 Reply 10, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1883 times:
AA flies the newer, more advanced A300-600 series aircraft while CO flew the older A300B4 series aircraft - the A300-600 has just enough range to fly from NE United States airports to the UK and Northern Europe. Such flights were out of range for the A300B4 with a normal payload.
Remember that AA used its A300s on routes out of JFK, EWR and BOS to mainly LHR only as a compromise - AA expanded its longhaul flying and simply did not have enough 767, 777 or MD11 aircraft at the time to cover all of the flights, so it "thought outside of the box" and dedicated several A300s to European routes. These A300s had a special low density (very comfortable) interior with large F and J class sections (the low density arrangement helped range issues) and flew only the shortest of transatlantic routes. The A300-600 is a very versatile airplane, but using it for transatlantic services is really streching its capabilities. As AA accepted more 777s and 763s, the A300s went back to their traditional duties - moving lots of pax and cargo on medium range caribbean/latin american routes.
CO's shorter range A300s did not go overseas, they flew domestic routes mainly out of the IAH hub until retired in favor of the 757. The old CO flew DC10s and some 747s on transatlantic routes, now replaced with the 757, 767 and 777.
Note that LH also used A300-600s over the atlantic for a few years, primarily on routes out of BOS.
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States, joined Jan 2002, 4877 posts, RR: 27 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1820 times:
Quoting Commavia (Reply 6): Yes. AA flew A300s to Europe from approximately 1992-1993 until 2003
Just a slight correction here, but they stopped flying them across the Atlantic at the end of 2001/beginning of 2002. This was a planned move to standardize equipment across the Atlantic, even before 9/11 and the crash near JFK.
Question about the AA A300 PTV system....was this the same system that was on the MD-11's?
Daron4000 From United States, joined Mar 2005, 664 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1806 times:
Why did they get rid of the PTV's when they reconverted them back to the domestic arrangement? What were the F and C seats like, and does anyone have any seatmaps from AA?
Cambrian From United Kingdom (Wales), joined Sep 2003, 606 posts, RR: 4 Reply 15, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1616 times:
I flew LHR-BOS on an AA A300 in 1996, and I there was no PTV. However, it was a very comfortable flight! I really enjoyed flying the A300 transatlantic. It felt very spacious and quiet.
On the same trip, I flew back from JFK to LHR on an AA MD11- those were the days!....
AAR90 From United States, joined Jan 2000, 3029 posts, RR: 50 Reply 16, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1552 times:
Quoting Dutchjet (Reply 10): AA expanded its longhaul flying and simply did not have enough 767, 777 or MD11 aircraft at the time to cover all of the flights, so it "thought outside of the box" and dedicated several A300s to European routes.
Exactly right. This was done for (relatively) short periods of time [twice during 1990's] as a temporary measure until more appropriate equipment became available. Even used 'em on USA transcons to LAX for a few months.
*NO CARRIER* -- A Naval Aviator's worst nightmare!
FURUREFA From United States, joined Feb 2004, 517 posts, RR: 3 Reply 17, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1107 times:
I remember flying BOS-LHR in AA J in 2002. The PTVs back then had video games, unlike the ones on the 777s. I flew a AB6 to SJU with the new domestic config. in J. Its really nice!
Cmk10 From United States, joined Feb 2004, 478 posts, RR: 10 Reply 18, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 802 times:
Here's a shot I took of the interior of an A300 at LHR. You can make out some of the J cabin with those old seats. I used to love those 300s to Europe, the J seats were those old sheapskin types that I feel are better than today's and yes, the PTVs had games on them.
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 738 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (4 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 762 times:
All AA AB6s (3 Class) had PTVs in all classes. They even kept the PTVs in Coach for a while after the 10 AB6s were pulled from Europe and sent back to the Caribbean. They flew to PAP, SDQ, POP and SJU from JFK during the transition. Too bad the PTVs were taken off. Those (10) AB6s are the ones in AA fleet who have a "newer" look. Better seats in FC (navy leather) and leather headrests in all Coach. The other 24 A300s have the standard FC seat (757 type) and no headrests in (Y). Rumor in AA is that once the Airbus leases expire these A300s will be replaced by BOEING aircrafts. AA will not decide anything until the Airbus leases expire within 5-7 years. They would have gotten rid of the A300s if their finances ($$$$$) were better. AA A300-600s are getting old and becoming a maintenance "headache". By isolating the fleet out of just (2) hubs MIA/JFK, AA hopes A300s reliability will improve.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States, joined Aug 2005, 362 posts, 
From Peru, joined Jan 2005, 4951 posts, 
From Switzerland, joined May 2005, 1050 posts, 
From Lebanon, joined Aug 2003, 6355 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 26137 posts, 
.gif){kind=small}
From United Kingdom (Wales), joined Sep 2003, 606 posts, 
From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 738 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
