United and Continental to finally merge!

"The Justice Department says it has closed its investigation into the proposed merger of UAL Corp. and Continental Airlines Inc." AP


The heavily anticipated merging between the two enormous legacy carriers is now one step closer to reality. Continental Airlines, (who ranks approximately 4th in size out of US airlines) who is based out of Houston, Texas has agreed to merge with UAL Corporation (United Airlines) who is currently the 3rd largest carrier in the country based out of Chicago, Illinois. I the deal is worth approximately $3.14 billion. Continentals CEO Jeff Smisek will take over as CEO for the new airline which will be called United. Current United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton will take over as acting Chairman over the company until he retires.


"The department says the proposed merger would combine largely complementary networks of the two airlines, resulting in overlap on a limited number of routes." AP


The DOJ or Department of Justice who handles and controls very difficult cases and extremely large and valuable assets such as this one has the job to make sure that no rules or regulations are being broken such as route overlap and a few other issues in order not to decrease competition so much so that the airlines can take advantage of the situation and set extremely high fares to its customers because there is no other alternative. The DOJ has looked over and has agreed to this merger and all of its assets as it determines that there is not much route overlap and that competition will not be decreased too much because of the merger. Once the merger does go through, United will become the biggest airline in the world leap frogging over Delta which merged with Northwest in 2008. The new airline will offer a diverse fleet tied with destinations that either of the carriers did not have before.   


Sources are from AP (Associated Press)

ANA's Boeing 787

"Boeing 787 launch customer All Nippon Airways plans to quickly ramp up its fleet of the type; it wants to introduce its first 787-8s before the end of March 2011, President and CEO Shinichiro Ito told AviationWeek in an interview.


The airline will take delivery of another 12 aircraft until the end of its fiscal year 2011 (March 2012). Ito says Boeing has given ANA the same information that has been made public—that margins in the flight test program have been eaten up. But ANA still expects to get its first 787 before the end of this year, around two and a half years later than planned." -aviationweek.com

ANA, (All Nippon Airlines) one of the official airlines of Japan are the launch customer for the brand new Boeing 787. The aircraft is behing schedule by about 2.5 years because of faults in the aircraft.   The 787 is a completely redesigned new aircraft that has the latest technological advancements that are currently possible. Airbus, are creating the A350 in response to the 787 in order to stay current and try to compete this this very demanding world. 

"Ito says ANA has no plans to order the 787-10 if Boeing was to offer a further stretch of the aircraft. Soon, ANA’s long-haul fleet will be made up of only two types, the 787 and the 777. The airline plans to retire its remaining three Boeing 747-400s from international service later this year, the type will however be used on domestic routes for several more years. In spite of the current economic recovery, ANA still sees no room for larger models such as the Airbus A380 or the Boeing 747-8 in its fleet any time soon. The airline suspended a decision on a larger aircraft when the global financial crisis broke out." -aviationweek.com

ANA who has been an extremely loyal customer to Boeing has sort of shook the reigns when they announced that there was no interest in the 787-10 or the 747-8 which is a revamped model of the 747-4. ANA reports that they will also be retiting their old 747-4's from service and that there 773ER's will be taking over as their biggest aircraft.

I do not and cannot realisticly see ANA sticking with this decision becuase as the economoy tends to get better and better the airline will definitely need to increase its capacity in order to meet customer needs. I have a feeling that eventually ANA will come to their senses and order a larger aircraft or at least more 773ER's in a high capacity seating chart in order to cope with travel demands.

Quotes are from aviationweek.com

So, what's it about?

Welcome, you've reached high blue in which we discuss all things aviation related. Personally sticking with commercial aircraft is what is aimed to do, however if we tend to drift of into other areas of aerospace,  they will be more than welcome. Aviation is a passion in which you can really appreciate how things work and correspond with each other. Not only is there vast amounts of mathematics and sciences applied to aeronautics, but just the beauty of flying is eye-catching. Man has always dreamed to fly since the age of dawn, and we tend to take it for granted of how easy it is. On this blog, we will try to enhance, be more than willing to answer any questions that might perplex someone about flight. So please, come visit and enjoy the channel!

"For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with you eyes turned skywards, for there you have been, and there you will long to return"