Some of the more relevant bits of the Spirit/JetBlue merger ruling out this afternoon.

Even if OALs backfilled the lost ULCC capacity, it would take too long and that's bad for consumers is the general vibe.

#avgeek $jblu $save

Judge calls the industry an oligarchy and seems to imply that prior mergers are to blame, so he's not going to let that continue.

Today's @United/@BoeingAirplanes order is every bit as massive as has been teased over past weeks. The carrier added 100 firm 787 orders, 100 options, and 100 more 737 MAX to its backlog through 2032.
$UAL $BA #AvGeek #PaxEx The first 100 787s are tipped as replacements, mostly for the 767s but also very much for the older 777s in the fleet. Indeed, despite the company waxing on about the A350 as a potential 777 replacement eventually, the vast majority of the existing 777 fleet will go to 787s.

The sun is coming up over Newark airport where @united is celebrating its largest aircraft order in history. The massive 270 plane deal will reshape the US market in many ways. And unlike the eVTOL or Supersonic, this one is real.
#UnitedNext #avgeek #paxex The headline number is 270 new single-aisle planes, and that is massive. But it comes atop an existing order book that now reaches 500 frames. Another 300 will be retired, but these are mostly older 50-seat RJs (~200). The growth planned is hard to fathom.

Headed to @EWRairport as a guest of @united today for the big #UnitedNext event tomorrow. #paxex #transportals Departure on RWY 22R from @BostonLogan in a @united A320. #avgeek

Been away from the TSA screening data for a few days but the trend marches steadily onward. Week to week numbers increasing at a ~3% clip in recent days (down from 5% last week) and YoY % holding in the low 30s.
#PaxEx More of the same on Wednesday, with TSA screening up 4.2% from the prior week.

#PaxEx

The $DAL earnings out this morning are every bit as awful as one might expect.

Retirement of the 737-700 fleet confirmed and some 763ER and A320s also out, though counts not provided. Earnings call now running and the news isn't good. "Business travel has not returned in any meaningful way...we remain cautious on the pace of recovery for the balance of the year," says Bastian.

Q3 is expected to be 20-25% of YoY capacity. Ouch.

"Will Easter bookings collapse?"Tough questions kicking off the CEO panel on #A4ESummit

Also FR?? expects 10% drop in loads through at least the next few months. #AvGeek #COVID19 In 2001, 2003, 2008, 2011 the airlines kept empty planes flying more. IAG's Willie Walsh expects that to be very different this time around. Notes that some planes are grounded already. #AvGeek #A4ESummit

Been thinking a lot about the #CRJ550 these days as it entered service with @united over the weekend (paxex.aero/2019/10/united…). A couple weeks ago Nocella said CASM would increase high single digits. Can RASM catch up?? 1/ #UnitedFlightPlan #PaxEx #AvGeek Looking at the average stage length (~600miles) an 8 cent CASM increase translates to a ~$2,400 higher trip cost (50 available seats * 600 miles * 8 cents). Selling 10 F seats on every flight isn't going to happen, but some are selling. (ORDMDT 12 days out). 2/ #PaxEx #AvGeek