With its first flight this week, Frontier Airlines’ fleet of 44 aircraft is officially “all-Airbus.” However, today’s watershed announcement was not an overnight process. Frontier began the transition from a Boeing fleet of 737-300 and 737-200 aircraft when it announced on October 19, 1999 that it had signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to purchase 11 new Airbus aircraft, with options for an additional nine. On November 4, 1999, Frontier further cemented its decision to transform its fleet to a single aircraft type when it announced it had signed an LOI for an additional 15 leased A319 aircraft. Finally, on August 21, 2003, the airline announced its largest order to date — 29 A319 and A318 aircraft. The airline received its first Airbus A319 in June 2001 and when all orders are completed in 2008, Frontier’s fleet will consist of 62 Airbus A319 and A318 aircraft
Today’s announcement has both financial and consumer implications for the airline. In addition to the fuel efficiency of the A319 and A318, Frontier estimates that the cost-savings produced by a single fleet-type, primarily derived from maintenance and training savings, should result in approximately $11 million on an annual basis. In addition, with the retirement of Frontier’s final Boeing 737-300, Frontier’s average fleet age will be under two years, one of the youngest in the industry. All of Frontier’s Airbus aircraft offer 33 inches of legroom in every seat, along with 24 channels of live DirecTV programming, and three pay-per-view movie selections in every seat back.
By: Duesseldwarf - 16th April 2005 at 18:12
I look forward to flying on the AA A300 in just over a week then (JFK/MIA). The airline I work for operate the A300 too, but I’ve not flown on one in the 6 years that I’ve worked there. AA will be my first A300.
By: Duesseldwarf - 16th April 2005 at 18:12
I look forward to flying on the AA A300 in just over a week then (JFK/MIA). The airline I work for operate the A300 too, but I’ve not flown on one in the 6 years that I’ve worked there. AA will be my first A300.
By: Whiskey Delta - 15th April 2005 at 19:45
Indeed.
I think I heard AA will eventually phase out their A300’s, in which case they would be an all U.S. fleet, as well. Any truth to this?
I haven’t heard that yet but it wouldn’t suprise me. They just finished up phasing out the F100’s and it would make sense to eliminate the A300’s as well. One less fleet type would lower their costs in these tough times. I’m sure they wouldn’t have trouble finding a buyer with FedEx gobbling up aircraft.
By: Whiskey Delta - 15th April 2005 at 19:45
Indeed.
I think I heard AA will eventually phase out their A300’s, in which case they would be an all U.S. fleet, as well. Any truth to this?
I haven’t heard that yet but it wouldn’t suprise me. They just finished up phasing out the F100’s and it would make sense to eliminate the A300’s as well. One less fleet type would lower their costs in these tough times. I’m sure they wouldn’t have trouble finding a buyer with FedEx gobbling up aircraft.
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 19:16
Not to many US carriers only operate US manufactured aircraft. Continental is pure Boeing now that they’ve retired their MD-80’s. They went all US back in the 1980’s when they ditched their A300’s which I believe the aquired from Eastern. Obviously the old CEO, Gordon Bethune, who had come from Boeing had some personal interest in being an all Boeing fleet. I guess if you want to get picky, Continental isn’t all Boeing as they own the leases to our 249 EMB-135/145 jets, they just don’t operate them since we’ve become a seperate company.
Southwest Airlines is pure Boeing and Delta has an all US manufactured fleet since they ditched their A310’s about 10 years ago. Delta is very heavy on the MD side though with their huge MD-80 fleet. Alaskan is also all US but also have a number of MD-80’s.
Indeed.
I think I heard AA will eventually phase out their A300’s, in which case they would be an all U.S. fleet, as well. Any truth to this?
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 19:16
Not to many US carriers only operate US manufactured aircraft. Continental is pure Boeing now that they’ve retired their MD-80’s. They went all US back in the 1980’s when they ditched their A300’s which I believe the aquired from Eastern. Obviously the old CEO, Gordon Bethune, who had come from Boeing had some personal interest in being an all Boeing fleet. I guess if you want to get picky, Continental isn’t all Boeing as they own the leases to our 249 EMB-135/145 jets, they just don’t operate them since we’ve become a seperate company.
Southwest Airlines is pure Boeing and Delta has an all US manufactured fleet since they ditched their A310’s about 10 years ago. Delta is very heavy on the MD side though with their huge MD-80 fleet. Alaskan is also all US but also have a number of MD-80’s.
Indeed.
I think I heard AA will eventually phase out their A300’s, in which case they would be an all U.S. fleet, as well. Any truth to this?
By: Whiskey Delta - 15th April 2005 at 18:42
Not to many US carriers only operate US manufactured aircraft. Continental is pure Boeing now that they’ve retired their MD-80’s. They went all US back in the 1980’s when they ditched their A300’s which I believe the aquired from Eastern. Obviously the old CEO, Gordon Bethune, who had come from Boeing had some personal interest in being an all Boeing fleet. I guess if you want to get picky, Continental isn’t all Boeing as they own the leases to our 249 EMB-135/145 jets, they just don’t operate them since we’ve become a seperate company.
Southwest Airlines is pure Boeing and Delta has an all US manufactured fleet since they ditched their A310’s about 10 years ago. Delta is very heavy on the MD side though with their huge MD-80 fleet. Alaskan is also all US but also have a number of MD-80’s.
By: Whiskey Delta - 15th April 2005 at 18:42
Not to many US carriers only operate US manufactured aircraft. Continental is pure Boeing now that they’ve retired their MD-80’s. They went all US back in the 1980’s when they ditched their A300’s which I believe the aquired from Eastern. Obviously the old CEO, Gordon Bethune, who had come from Boeing had some personal interest in being an all Boeing fleet. I guess if you want to get picky, Continental isn’t all Boeing as they own the leases to our 249 EMB-135/145 jets, they just don’t operate them since we’ve become a seperate company.
Southwest Airlines is pure Boeing and Delta has an all US manufactured fleet since they ditched their A310’s about 10 years ago. Delta is very heavy on the MD side though with their huge MD-80 fleet. Alaskan is also all US but also have a number of MD-80’s.
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 18:07
Perhaps it’s no so much the airlines (which at the end of the day should want the most adequate product for their businesses) as some of the passengers themselves. Judging by comments seen and heard on internet boards out there, the “if it ain’t Boeing I’m not going” brigade is alive and well. People who claim they will not fly on an European-made a/c, only American ones. That has to have had an effect when it comes to consider a purchase.
Well said.
No the 727’s have been phased out when the A320 went into service.
AFAIK AF never operated any 757
The 767’s are gone
Thanks for that Hand. I was actually aware that the ’67’s were gone, and was well aware that they didn’t currently operate the ’27. I was just wondering if they had operated the 3-holer in the past, and you cleared that up.
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 18:07
Perhaps it’s no so much the airlines (which at the end of the day should want the most adequate product for their businesses) as some of the passengers themselves. Judging by comments seen and heard on internet boards out there, the “if it ain’t Boeing I’m not going” brigade is alive and well. People who claim they will not fly on an European-made a/c, only American ones. That has to have had an effect when it comes to consider a purchase.
Well said.
No the 727’s have been phased out when the A320 went into service.
AFAIK AF never operated any 757
The 767’s are gone
Thanks for that Hand. I was actually aware that the ’67’s were gone, and was well aware that they didn’t currently operate the ’27. I was just wondering if they had operated the 3-holer in the past, and you cleared that up.
By: 4 engines good - 15th April 2005 at 17:51
Perhaps it’s no so much the airlines (which at the end of the day should want the most adequate product for their businesses) as some of the passengers themselves. Judging by comments seen and heard on internet boards out there, the “if it ain’t Boeing I’m not going” brigade is alive and well. People who claim they will not fly on an European-made a/c, only American ones. That has to have had an effect when it comes to consider a purchase.
By: 4 engines good - 15th April 2005 at 17:51
Perhaps it’s no so much the airlines (which at the end of the day should want the most adequate product for their businesses) as some of the passengers themselves. Judging by comments seen and heard on internet boards out there, the “if it ain’t Boeing I’m not going” brigade is alive and well. People who claim they will not fly on an European-made a/c, only American ones. That has to have had an effect when it comes to consider a purchase.
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 17:29
Although it’s good to support one’s own industry there is nothing wrong with airlines, even flagship carrier ones, buying a/c from other countries. This has never been a problem in Europe, with many airlines having an all-Boeing or manily-Boeing fleet, but there used to be a rather different (and a bit moronic if you ask me) position in America regarding ownership of non-American a/c.
Well, United, Northwest, and America West both operate sizeable Airbus fleets at the moment, along with the 2 aforementioned airlines. When was this ‘moronic’ position evident?
By: greekdude1 - 15th April 2005 at 17:29
Although it’s good to support one’s own industry there is nothing wrong with airlines, even flagship carrier ones, buying a/c from other countries. This has never been a problem in Europe, with many airlines having an all-Boeing or manily-Boeing fleet, but there used to be a rather different (and a bit moronic if you ask me) position in America regarding ownership of non-American a/c.
Well, United, Northwest, and America West both operate sizeable Airbus fleets at the moment, along with the 2 aforementioned airlines. When was this ‘moronic’ position evident?
By: Grey Area - 15th April 2005 at 17:27
There used to be more than one US airliner manufacturer, too…….;)
By: Grey Area - 15th April 2005 at 17:27
There used to be more than one US airliner manufacturer, too…….;)
By: 4 engines good - 15th April 2005 at 17:26
Although it’s good to support one’s own industry there is nothing wrong with airlines, even flagship carrier ones, buying a/c from other countries. This has never been a problem in Europe, with many airlines having an all-Boeing or manily-Boeing fleet, but there used to be a rather different (and a bit moronic if you ask me) position in America regarding ownership of non-American a/c.
By: 4 engines good - 15th April 2005 at 17:26
Although it’s good to support one’s own industry there is nothing wrong with airlines, even flagship carrier ones, buying a/c from other countries. This has never been a problem in Europe, with many airlines having an all-Boeing or manily-Boeing fleet, but there used to be a rather different (and a bit moronic if you ask me) position in America regarding ownership of non-American a/c.
By: Hand87_5 - 15th April 2005 at 17:09
Oh, ok. Either way, they still operate, or have operated a number of Boeings. I neglected to mention the 767’s they also operated. Did they ever operate the 727 or 757?
No the 727’s have been phased out when the A320 went into service.
AFAIK AF never operated any 757
The 767’s are gone
By: Hand87_5 - 15th April 2005 at 17:09
Oh, ok. Either way, they still operate, or have operated a number of Boeings. I neglected to mention the 767’s they also operated. Did they ever operate the 727 or 757?
No the 727’s have been phased out when the A320 went into service.
AFAIK AF never operated any 757
The 767’s are gone
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April 15, 2005 at 7:53 am