PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 years 12 months 6 hours ago) and read 2610 times:
I suspect w/the cancellation of SJU-BWI/IAD routes the AA International crew base of Washington (FAs and pilots) would probably close. DCA International AA crews fly the SJU trips, no need to keep the International division if there are no trips to cover. Anyone knows? I hope it does not happen but it sound obvious since AA does not fly anything else overwater from BWI/IAD. Let's hope AA changes its mind and keeps one of the two routes.
I would think they would keep at least a BWI-SJU return for Caribbean connections and also since the DC area is home to the 3rd largest Caribbean community in the US.
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10192 posts, RR: 62 Reply 2, posted (4 years 12 months 6 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
I'd imagine so, yeah.
Those crews were based their solely for San Juan. With San Juan going away - at least for now - there's no longer a need to base overwater crews there.
NYCAAer From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 660 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (4 years 12 months 6 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
SABRE is now showing BWI-SJU as flying again. For the time being, that is. So they will still continue to crew that flight and the base may not be closed, as the int'l crews could also work a domestic leg to MIA and then continue on to some other point in the Caribbean or Central America. Our crews that fly out of EWR often fly trips to MIA and then go on an overwater leg after that, often it involves mixed flying, where F/As will work some legs on the 757, then work other legs on the 738.
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 years 12 months 6 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
I do hope AA keeps SJU-BWI / IAD but I am afraid AA res system is not updated yet. I checked and the SJU routes mentioned to get the ax still show operating even 'til December 2008...
TUSAA From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 172 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 8): Why cut RDU? AA 173/174 isn't going anywhere, and that flight is the only reason for an f/a base there.
Since it's RDU-LHR now, it may be more cost effective to use crews from another base. They could use a DFW based crew and do DFW-LHR-RDU-LHR-DFW, or the same sequence with a crew from another base such as JFK or MIA, ORD,etc.. It's something that's being considered, and not written in stone as of yet.
KevinDCA From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 103 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (4 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 2613 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 8): Why cut RDU? AA 173/174 isn't going anywhere, and that flight is the only reason for an f/a base there.
It costs money to keep a base open, considering management and support costs, having to have reserves available, etc. Weigh those costs against laying over 10-12 flight attendants a day from another base, along with the pilots.
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21242 posts, RR: 19 Reply 13, posted (4 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting KevinDCA (Reply 12): It costs money to keep a base open, considering management and support costs
The management and support costs of a 75 f/a base are nearly nonexistent. When you're staffing but a single flight, furthermore, there is almost no need for reserve f/as. The costs are negligible.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10192 posts, RR: 62 Reply 14, posted (4 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting TUSAA (Reply 6): Word has it the BOS crew base will also get cut, and possibly the RDU FA base...No official word yet, or if any will materialize.
Anything is possible, but I highly doubt that the Raleigh base is going to be closed. The base exists for the Raleigh-London flight, and at least as of now, that flight shows no signs of going away.
And yes, indeed, the base costs AA not that much money - the incremental cost of that base is essentially the salary for their Flight Service Manager, their support staff (probably 2-3 FTE), and the office space at the airport for them.
It would probably be more expensive to deal with the hotels, etc. for routing the crews through from Dallas, Miami, etc.
TUSAA From United States of America, joined Mar 2008, 172 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (4 years 12 months 5 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 11): Let's be honest, though. How much does that base cost AA?
I have no hard numbers, but my guess would be that there is most likely a base manager and a supervisor or two, and maybe a few admin folks to take care of issues such as sick time or vacations, etc..Plus, there maybe rent and other costs to house these folks at the airport..
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21242 posts, RR: 19 Reply 16, posted (4 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 2613 times:
Quoting TUSAA (Reply 15): I have no hard numbers, but my guess would be that there is most likely a base manager and a supervisor or two, and maybe a few admin folks to take care of issues such as sick time or vacations, etc..Plus, there maybe rent and other costs to house these folks at the airport..
On the high end, you're looking at $500,000 a year. How many hotel rooms does it take to overnight a 772 crew?
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Qqflyboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2198 posts, RR: 14 Reply 17, posted (4 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 2614 times:
Re: the RDU crew base...
Not that it won't get the ax, but the numbers are in favor for keeping it.
The 777 is staffed with 11 flight attendants. The RDU-LHR flight operates seven days a week, 363 days per year. (It does not operate on Christmas or New Year's Eve). Lets figure a hotel room costs AA $100 per night, $1,100 per night for all the F/As. Multiply that by 363 and you get about $400,000. The crew room/office facilities for the base at RDU are very small. I don't know what rent on a facility like that costs, but add that to the salaries of the two Flight Service employees that staff the base, and you probably won't even hit $200,000.
The only thing that could significantly impact those costs is the new terminal opening in September/October. Rent is likely to be more expensive, but I can't imagine the difference would be great enough to cause the base to close. Of course, anything is possible, especially in light of the past week's announcements. We are only just beginning to see what's coming down the pipe.
Remember, AA said it plans to cut 10%-12% capacity, which would mean the cancellation of over 400 flights, giving that AA/AE operate about 4,400 flights a day.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect my employer’s views.
ERJ170 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 6626 posts, RR: 19 Reply 18, posted (4 years 12 months 4 hours ago) and read 2612 times:
Quoting Qqflyboy (Reply 17): I don't know what rent on a facility like that costs,
I think it's somewhere between $0.79-$1.50 sq ft. Can't remember the exact amount but I know I read it somewhere... Anywho, all airline offices have already been signed for so if AA decides to close the base, they will still have the office space because I do believe AA has signed a long term lease (unlike any other airline and was one of the basis for RDU getting the terminal) for office space, club space, ramp space, and 10 gates...
ElmoTheHobo From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1515 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (4 years 12 months 2 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
It'll be interesting to see how AA ends up dealing with DC. I'd rather see them keep Dulles, I'd guess that with Dulles being bigger than BWI, and being slightly closer to DC they'd pick up all of NOVA and DC's traffic. Though, IIRC, Baltimore has a significant Caribbean population.
Either way, it's weird to see SJU being downsized this much, and it hasn't gotten the attention or coverage that St. Louis got when it was downsized. I can remember discussing the future of STL on Airwise (gasp!) back in 2003 for months ahead of time.
Here's to hoping that American keeps IAD and BWI open!
Quoting Qqflyboy (Reply 17): Remember, AA said it plans to cut 10%-12% capacity, which would mean the cancellation of over 400 flights, giving that AA/AE operate about 4,400 flights a day.
AA/MQ operates 4,000 flights per day, the last time they flew 4,400 flights per day was pre-November 2003.
I'm shocked to think that American / American Eagle is going to drop to 3,600 flights a day and go sub 1000 active aircraft (Mainline, Eagle, Executive, Trans States and Chautauqua). How big will they be compared to DL/NW or UA?
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 20, posted (4 years 12 months 2 hours ago) and read 2611 times:
Quoting ERJ170 (Reply 18): I'm shocked to think that American / American Eagle is going to drop to 3,600 flights a day and go sub 1000 active aircraft (Mainline, Eagle, Executive, Trans States and Chautauqua).
Though let's note two things:
1) 34 738s are being delivered in 2009 with no plans to currently retire aircraft in 2009.
2) Only domestic capacity is being cut, so the actual cut isn't quite exactly 10% of the entire network.
PRAirbus From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (4 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1746 times:
Everything on the airline industry is based on SENIORITY. Of course, the FAs at the bottom of the seniority list would get furloughed but keep in mind AA is expecting delivery of around (70) 738's so the need to furlough might not be there if you consider FAs who would retire. For sure, no AA FA new-hires for a while.
QQflyboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2198 posts, RR: 14 Reply 23, posted (4 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1659 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 20): 1) 34 738s are being delivered in 2009 with no plans to currently retire aircraft in 2009.
My understanding is the 738s are slated to replace one for one the MD-80s. Of course, AA can amend this as capacity needs warrant, but it is safe to say AA will not be adding a net total of 70 a/c to their fleet in the next two years.
Also, additional A300s are scheduled to leave the fleet in 2009. Per the 2007 Annual Report three A300s will be returned to the lessor this year, three in 2009, nine in 2010 and nine in 2011.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect my employer’s views.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 25, posted (4 years 11 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1430 times:
Quoting QQflyboy (Reply 23):
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 20):
1) 34 738s are being delivered in 2009 with no plans to currently retire aircraft in 2009.
My understanding is the 738s are slated to replace one for one the MD-80s.
Correct. However, the MD80s will be retired in 2008, not 2009. So while about 35 MD80s will be gone by December, throughout 2009 a new 738 will be delivered roughly every ten days, while no S80s (at least not as of now) will be retired.
Sponsor Message: 
From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2005, 1017 posts, 
From Chile, joined Feb 2006, 8270 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10192 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
