Second runway for Lindbergh? (Some call plan outlandish; further study recommended)

San Diego Union-Tribune (SanDiego.com) ^ | June 21, 2005 | Jeff Ristine

[RayChuang88]

JetBlue has problems with their A320's on transcontinental routes. They often have to make fuel stops. The A320's were designed with European intercity distances in mind not North American distances or weather conditions.

Actually, I've heard that Airbus is looking at building a higher maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) A320 that is suited to JetBlue's needs. It would essentially sacrifice some cargo capacity for extra fuel capacity and also be fitted with more powerful engines; this would allow JetBlue to fly non-stop from the US West Coast to JFK year-round, due to the fact the modified A320 will add about 400 to 500 nautical miles in still-air range. Would Airbus do this? I think they will, especially if the modification cost is spread over 50-60 planes.

[Paleo Conservative]

Would Airbus do this? I think they will, especially if the modification cost is spread over 50-60 planes.

But why didn't they do this years ago? The A320 has been in service for 16 years. All the Next Generation 737's except the 737-900 can fly transcontinental routes over North America year round. When the 737-900X comes out, there will be a 737 NG plane in each fuselage length capable of year round transcontinental service.

[tarawa]

I remember those approaches in San Diego were always interesting. When you are coming in for a landing, between buildings, it's a funny feeling. You can just about look straight out your window and see some guy boffing his secretary.

[RayChuang88]

But why didn't they do this years ago?

Well, mostly because neither Airbus or Boeing realized originally that low-cost airlines would be flying such relatively small jet airliners on USA transcontinental flights! Boeing did manage to get the Next-Generation 737 (737-600/700/800/900) models to do transcon flights, but only after they put in more fuel tanks (which kind of reduced passenger/cargo capacity) and installed the Aviation Partners winglets. That's why Southwest Airlines is upgrading the entire 737-700 fleet (retrofits as the planes come up for major maintanence and new-buy planes) to install the winglets, which allow Southwest to fly as far as Los Angeles to Providence, RI or Manchester, NH (both are within short driving distance of Boston, MA) non-stop on a year-round basis.

As such, the proposal to build a higher-weight A320 (e.g., extra fuel capacity and more powerful IAE V2500 engines) specifically for JetBlue could become reality within the next year or so. The extra fuel will allow JetBlue to stop the practice of occasional refuelling stops, and the more powerful engines will allow for safer takeoffs from shorter runways such as those in Burbank, CA.