Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC
The air war over Washington DC has escalated with US Airways announcing plans to introduce new Airbus A320s. The move comes as it expands its lucrative shuttle operation in competition with Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.
US Airways will replace 12 Boeing 727-200s operated by US Airways Shuttle with single-class 154-seat A320s from October. US Airways says it hopes the new aircraft, "with its wider cabin and more space between rows", will attract additional passengers.
The expansion of the shuttle services and the A320 introduction follows US Airways' tentative pilot deal to merge the US Airways mainline and Shuttle seniority rankings. It enables the noisy, inefficient 727s to be phased out before the end of the year deadline.
US Airways holds commitments for 400 A320 family aircraft, including 120 firm orders. Eleven A319s and A320s have been delivered to the airline so far and another 27 are due this year. The carrier says it has not yet decided how many A320s will be dedicated to the expanding Shuttle operation.
The US Airways Shuttle flies 15 round trips daily between Washington Reagan National Airport and New York LaGuardia, and 17 round trips between LaGuardia and Boston Logan. From July, the hourly US Airways service between Boston and Reagan National will become part of the Shuttle system. Before the end of the year, US Airways' current hourly services between Washington Dulles and Boston Logan and LaGuardia will also become part of the US Airways Shuttle.
The US Airways Shuttle operates on the hour, while Delta flies every half-hour, also using 727-200s. Delta says no plans have been announced to change aircraft.
Meanwhile, Delta plans to use Comair's 50-seat Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs) on its new Boston-Washington shuttle from June, unless prohibited by a court injunction. In May, United and its regional affiliate, Atlantic Coast Airlines, began offering Dulles-LaGuardia shuttle service, also using 50-seat CRJs.
Source: Flight International
