Tulsa World: US Airways defers delivery of 54 jets

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US Airways defers delivery of 54 jets
The company will move ahead at what it calls a more manageable pace.

A US Airways plane takes off from Miami International Airport. US Airways is delaying delivery of 54 Airbus jets until at least 2013 as it tries to bolster its financial strength. Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press

By AP Wire Services
Published: 11/25/2009 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/25/2009 8:34 AM

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — US Airways said Tuesday it will delay delivery of 54 Airbus jets until at least 2013 as it tries to bolster its financial strength.

The company said delaying the deliveries will reduce its aircraft capital expenditures over the next three years by $2.5 billion.

US Airways had planned to add 82 Airbus planes by the end of 2012. The company said it will go ahead with 28 deliveries over the next three years, which it called a more manageable pace during an airline industry slump. The carrier has financing in place for those 28 planes, including commitments for $275 million in loans for four aircraft it will receive next year.

The airline gave two reasons for delaying the aircraft deliveries. It said revenue — especially profitable business travel — has been hurt by the recession. "Simply put, people are not willing to pay as much to fly as they were during more robust economic times," the company wrote to employees. It also said loans for the new planes were expensive and harder to get.

US Airways, based in Tempe, Ariz., was scheduled to add 72 Airbus A320-series jets and 10 A330 and A350s over the next three years to replace older jets in the airline's fleet. Now it plans to take four next year, 12 in each of the following two years. Another 22 A330s and A350s scheduled for delivery beginning in 2015 were also delayed.

Airbus spokeswoman Mary Anne Greczyn said the US Airways deferral was already built into the company's 2010 planning. By AP Wire Services

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	Report Comment Dobrescu, Tulsa, OK (11/27/2009 5:47:43 PM) When they decide to expand there fleet in the future they will select BOEING aircraft.
	Report Comment FS, Broken Arrow (11/29/2009 9:12:39 AM) At least that's 54 less of the SCAREBUS aircraft that will be flying around.

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