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United
Airlines (NYSE: UAL) said today it will take further steps to reduce its
capacity to meet continued soft demand for travel. United previously
announced that it would reduce capacity, measured in available seat
miles (ASMs), to 80 percent of the schedule it flew prior to the
September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
Commencing on November 1, United's new schedule will consist of 26
percent fewer available seat miles and 31 percent fewer departures, both
compared to levels prior to September 11.
Commenting on the additional capacity reduction, James E. Goodwin,
United Airlines chairman and chief executive officer, said: "We need to
get our country flying again, and we applaud the lead taken by President
Bush and Congressional leaders in encouraging Americans to resume their
normal lives, including their travel plans. However, the reality of
softer demand means that we must further reduce our capacity as we enter
the fall/winter period."
The November cuts will allow for the early retirement of United's entire
Boeing 727-200 and Boeing 737-200 fleets. These changes will leave
United with five families of aircraft: Boeing 737-300/500; Boeing
747-400; Boeing 757/767, Boeing 777, and Airbus A319/320, a reduction
from ten fleets several years ago.
"Even as we take these steps, United will do all it can to support the
efforts to get our nation moving again," said Goodwin. |
