123 replies to this topic

[floridaskier]

A lot of planes are leased, one of US Airways' biggest problems is insane lease rates from all the new Airbus A319/320/321/333 they just splurged on

[highspeedquad]

In my opinion, US airways is going down to the airline graveyard, where Eastern, TWA, and others rest.

[floridaskier]

I think they will too. Feel bad for all the employees who'll lose their jobs if they do, but I think it'll be good for the others

[highspeedquad]

Yeah, a lot of airlines aren't doing that well. Not a whole lot of airlines have gotten out easy.

[floridaskier]

Northwest seems to be the only one of the US majors (Delta, Northwest, Continental, American, US Airways, United) that isn't bleeding money right now. They're still flying a whole bunch of ancient DC-9s and DC-10s, but since they're all paid for, they don't have insane lease rates to worry about

[highspeedquad]

Insane lease rates arent the only thing that must be worried about. Fuel prices are through the roof, which is one of the reasons why Boeing embarked on the 787.

[SkiBachelor]

Well American bought TWA so it never really died.

About 7 years ago, Northwest was in some hot water.

Southwest Airlines is the only airline that made a profit this quater. Are all of Jet Blue's planes paid for? It doesn't really have that big of a fleet, but does have some good investors.

I still don't know how ILFC gets their hands on so much money to buy these planes to lease them out, unless GE owns it.

[floridaskier]

I thought AirTran turned a profit too, as well as JetBlue.
I don't think much of JetBlue's fleet is paid for. They have a whole bunch more A320s on order with lots of options too, and their 100 Embraer E190s should be coming soon too.

GE has its own lease finance company, GECAS (GE Capital services)

[KZ]

Its really too bad to see the state of airlines right now. I remember when they were all flying so high, no most are just barely surviving. Its really too bad but it has brought some lower fares but that is just hurting them more. I know the 787 is supposed to have better fuel economy but we need something a whole lot better. With the current consumption of fuel we are going to be in big trouble in a few decades. The first company to come out with a plane that really saves fuel or uses some new type is going to win the game. They should really get going on that because if they don't start soon its not going to be pretty.

[Boeinglover]

Yea, 9-11 ruined everything. you Osama Bin-Ladin. I love planes and I loathe what Osama has done to the industry.

[SkiBachelor]

Yea I agree, but it's going to be extremely hard to find an energy source like that, plus make it fit into an airplane and other things. Maybe one day planes will no longer fly and trains will be the mod of transportation and Amtrack could finally make some money.

[floridaskier]

I'm pretty confident they'll find something. I think it's more urgent that we do something about cars first, which will leave a little more oil for planes. One thing for sure, we're not giving up planes altogether anytime soon, unless something big happens, think of how much of a step back that would be. I'm pretty confident that Airbus and Boeing and everyone else who has anything to do with energy is working to find something

[Boeinglover]

Even if every airline dies, flying won't. The military needs planes and so very many people own their own planes. Besides, the possibility that every airline will die is impossible. Many airlines are still doing good, however, those airlines are not U.S. airlines.
Boeinglover

[highspeedquad]

We really need to find a new energy source, because fossil fuels are being used up faster than they're being made.

[Boeinglover]

Way, way, faster. (1 gallon of fossil fuel is made every million years and we suck it up super fast)

[Boeinglover]

P.S. I'm an environmentalist :)

[iceberg210]

Even though Luthansa is an Airbus airline they have been asking Airbus for an A300/310 replacement for eons and if Boeing is willing to offer one I'm sure Luthansa due to thier need will throw bais to the wayside and buy the Boeing.

[SkiBachelor]

I saw a Northwet Airlines commercial last night and the plane was an MD-11. Could Northwest have purchased some of American's old MD-11s?

[poloxskier]

Their web site is only showing DC-10-30s but they may have aquired a few MD-11s when AA disposed of them.

[iceberg210]

All of AA's MD-11's were either sold to World Airways or Fed Ex.