Bye Bye CRJ, Hello 717!

[haze]

Joe Leonard once said we have no use for the CRJ, we have the perfect regional jet in the 717. Apparently, he is definately a man of his word:

Mar 05, 2004 4:44 PM ET


AirTran Airways Returns to All Full-Size Boeing Jets with Business Class
Source : Comtex News Network(Business Wire)


AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI), today announced that the airline has reached an agreement with Air Wisconsin Airline Corporation (NASDAQ:AWAC) to end the regional jet service known as AirTran Airways JetConnect. The move to end JetConnect service comes after the airline performed an economic analysis and determined it could operate the Boeing 717 more efficiently than the Canadair regional jets in short-haul markets. Air Wisconsin Airline Corp. currently operates ten Canadair regional jets under the AirTran JetConnect brand and flies to 14 cities - five of them exclusively.

AirTran JetConnect service will begin phasing out of AirTran Airways' system in July 2004, with all JetConnect service ending by August 2004. Passenger demand in the JetConnect cities will be met with the airline's popular Boeing 717 jets - all of which have Business Class and extra large overhead storage bins. The airline operates the youngest all-Boeing fleet in the nation. In addition, the airline has 100 Boeing 737-700 aircraft on order with deliveries scheduled to begin this summer.

"AirTran Airways viewed AirTran JetConnect as a trial which included a pre-planned review period at the end of 2003. We launched the regional jet product after September 11th when short-haul traffic initially evaporated. Since that time, the combination of improved short-haul revenue and eleven consecutive quarterly reductions in our unit costs now permit us to better serve these routes with full-size jets. Every jet in our fleet will have a Business Class cabin and extra large overhead storage bins, and passengers will continue to enjoy the same low fares they have come to expect with AirTran Airways," said Joe Leonard, chairman and chief executive officer. "Air Wisconsin lived up to their operational and financial promises, and we appreciate the partnership with Air Wisconsin and wish them well in their new endeavors."

[haze]

Originally Posted by haze

...currently operates ten Canadair regional jets under the AirTran JetConnect brand and flies to 14 cities - five of them exclusively... Passenger demand in the JetConnect cities will be met with the airline's popular Boeing 717 jets - all of which have Business Class and extra large overhead storage bins...now permit us to better serve these routes with full-size jets.

Like the header of this thread states, AirTran's regional "feeder" needs will now be served by the b717-2 instead of the CRJ. And I suspect that these 6 additional aircraft orders will fill the gap left by the elimination of the 10 CRJs. As the new 737-7 deliveries begin in June, the 717-2 will begin shifting even more into the "regional" role:

AirTran Airways Announces Order for Six Boeing 717 Aircraft
Source: Comtex News Network (Business Wire)

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI), today announced that the airline has finalized an agreement for six more Boeing 717 airplanes to be delivered in 2005. The six aircraft represent the exercise of four options and firm orders for two additional aircraft, and the announcement comes only a few weeks before AirTran Airways accepts delivery of the first of 100 new Boeing 737-700 aircraft. AirTran Airways already operates the youngest all-Boeing fleet in the United States, currently flying 76 Boeing 717s with an average age of three years.

"The Boeing 717 is the cornerstone of our operation," said Joe Leonard, AirTran Airways' chairman and chief executive officer. "Since we became the launch customer for this aircraft, the 717 has delivered unparalleled efficiency, reliability, maintenance and fuel cost advantages," he added.

"The Boeing 717 is a proven market development aircraft. We're confident that these new aircraft will produce consistent operating results, building on the efficiency and reliability of our fleet, thus reducing our costs and allowing us to pass the savings on to our customers," said Robert L. Fornaro, president and chief operating officer. He added, "In fact we estimate the Boeing 717 to be 24 percent more fuel efficient than our previous aircraft."

The Boeing 717-200 was designed specifically for short-haul, high-frequency routes and offers low acquisition, trip and maintenance costs. AirTran Airways' 717 aircraft accommodates 117 passengers and offers 12 Business Class seats, spacious EasyFit overhead bins and 100 percent fresh air circulated throughout the cabin. The 717's BR715 engine was specifically developed by Rolls Royce to make the quietest and most environmentally friendly airplane in its class while not compromising power.

"The numbers that AirTran Airways has achieved with the Boeing 717 speak for themselves. The airplane's reliability, environmental advantages and fuel efficiency are unmatched among aircraft in its class," said Jim Phillips, Boeing 717 vice president and general manager. "AirTran Airways was the 717's launch customer. They began seeing operational and financial improvements as soon as they introduced the 717 into the fleet. This is a dynamic partnership that will continue for years to come," he stated.