User:LizArchive/USX International Airways

USX International Airways (USX) is an American airline headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is one of the five largest airlines in the United States when measured by fleet size and scheduled passengers carried. USX operates a medium-sized route network of over 700 daily flights to 64 destinations from its hubs at Austin, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham and Seattle.

Early Years (1987-1989)
USX International Airways was founded by Thom K Henson in Charlotte, North Carolina in February 1987. Henson perceived the stagnant airline growth within the United States as due to an excessive amount of airline mergers and a loss of service to smaller and mid-sized airports.

To fill this gap, USX International Airways planned to offer point-to-point flights from smaller, secondary airports as well as hub-and-spoke model to service small airports profitably. Additionally, USX would pioneer a semi-low-cost airine model while also offering popular amenities such as quick boarding and spacious seating.

To find aircraft, Henson began negoatiations with Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Airbus in 1990. Negoations with McDonnell Douglas fell through quickly, as Henson disapproved of the negative fiscal corporate culture present at the company. Negotiations with Boeing and Airbus lasted until December 1990, with the competition lying between the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Boeing, not believing USX would purchase the Airbus A320, refused to budge much from the Boeing 737's list price. Airbus' large-sized discounts, potentially as a result from the benefits perceived by Airbus in having Airbus operating in the United States, eventually won Henson over. USX International Airways received FAA authorisation in early 1989, and sensing an opportunity from the bueaucracy of the Piedmont Airlines-USAir merger occurring the same year, USX operated its first flight in an Airbus A320 on 28 May 1989.

1990s
In the early 1990s, USX International Airways operated flights to various large international airports along the US East Coast. USX's business model was successful, as the airline carried over a million passengers in 1992 alone. The same year, USX operated its first long-haul international flight.

USX International Airways' domestic and international operations drastically hampered USAir's plans to take over Piedmont Airlines' hub. In particular, USAir announced the permanent cancellation of tens of flights including a nonstop flight between Charlotte and London Heathrow. To further increase its presence, USX ordered a total of thirty-five Fokker 100s.

In 1994, USX International Airways received its fiftieth aircraft as well as its first stretched version of the Airbus A320, dubbed the A321. The Airbus A321 would eventually help USX operate intercontinental routes connecting the East and West Coast in 1998.

In 1996, USX International Airways was looking to expand its operations to another, smaller airport. Raleigh-Durham International Airport was chosen as it was one of the fastest-growing regions nationwide, allowing USX to capitalise early on potential new destinations. Operations from the airport began in 1997. Just two years later, USX opened its third hub at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Similarly to Raleigh-Durham, Austin was chosen as it was a place where USX could operate a large number of frequent, point-to-point flights that would see a high load factor.

2000s
In early 2001, USX International Airways received its fiftieth Airbus A320 and its twenty-fifth Airbus A321. In November of 2002, USX broke the 50,000 daily seat milestone.

In 2002, USX International Airways began a massive audits of underperforming routes and potential new destinations from its hubs at Austin, Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham. The results showed a large, untapped market of routes that could be profitably operated on with jets that sat between 60 and 80 passengers. Given this finding, USX began talks with Bombardier Aerospace and Embraer, eventually selecting 130 Embraer E175s on 27 February 2003, the sixteenth anniversary of the airline. The same day, USX expanded its Airbus backlog by 42 planes.

E175 operations were highly profitable, prompting USX to order from Embraer again. This time, USX ordered 35 E190s to replace its aging Fokker 100 fleet. The first E190 was delivered in 2006.

In August 2008, USX International Airways announced its intentions to establish a hub at Seattle Tacoma International Airport, followed by another announcement in early 2009 to commence service from Boise, Idaho in an effort to strengthen USX's presence in the Western US.

In 2009, USX International Airways ordered seven A330-200s and six A330-300s to replace its A340s.

Destinations
USX International Airways operates to 64 destinations within seven countries.

Hubs

 * Austin–Bergstrom International Airport - Austin is USX's central US hub, and serves as a connection airport for transcontinental flights.
 * Charlotte Douglas International Airport - USX International Airways' primary hub for all flights.
 * Raleigh-Durham International Airport - USX International Airways' second hub located on the East Coast. USX primarily operates point-to-point flights at RDU.
 * Seattle Tacoma International Airport - USX International Airways' primary West Coast hub.

Focus Cities

 * Boise Airport
 * Piedmont Triad International Airport

Airline Agreements

 * Air Transat
 * British Airways
 * Finnair
 * Qantas
 * Scandinavian Airlines

Fleet
USX International Airways has a fleet consisting of 262 aircraft, with an average fleet age of 5.5 years. Out of those, 168 are Airbuses, 31 are Fokker 100s and 64 are Embraers. Additionally, USX has 226 aircraft on order, of which 121 are Airbuses and 101 are Embraers.

Within the United States, USX International Airways is the only operator of the Fokker 100 and Airbus A340, and is the largest A320 family operator.

USX Astro
USX Astro is the airline's premier business class product, available on Airbus A320, A321 and A340s performing transcontinental and long haul international flights from Charlotte. Seats are staggered on the Airbus A320 and A321, whereas they are in a reverse herringbone pattern on the larger A340.

USX Astro features lie-flat seating and are equipped with personal in-flight entertainment, universal power ports, movable reading lights and a folding work table. Complimentary meals, refreshments, alcoholic beverages are also offered.

USX Business
USX Business is found on all aircraft excluding regional jets and those featuring USX Astro business class seats. USX Business seats feature a pitch between 86 and 91 centimetres (34 to 36 inches). All USX Premier seats are configured in a 2-2 configuration.

Complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are served on all flights. Alcoholic beverages are served on flights greater than 250nmi (400km) in length. Meals are served on flights over 800nmi (1,500km) in length.

USX Economy & Premium Economy
USX's Premium Economy and regular Economy seats are arranged in a 2-2 configuration on regional jets, a 2-3 configuration on Fokker 100s and a 3-3 configuration on Airbus A320 family aircraft. On Airbus A340s, Premium Economy features a 2-3-2 seating layout, whereas Economy features eighteen alternating 2-3-2 and 2-4-2 seats from row 41.

On flights lasting more than five hours, both economy and premium economy seats feature a 2.7-inch/69mm Airvision LCD screen as an on-demand in-flight entertainment system. Complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are served on all flights, and those greater than 900nmi (1,650km) in distance include meals.

Sky+
Launched in November 1992, Sky+ is USX International Airways' frequent-flyer programme offering redeemable points based off of flight distance and seat class. Points can also be earned by utilising Global Pass credit cards. Points do not expire, and are redeemable towards free flights or upgrades.

USX+
USX Sky Lounge is the branding name of USX International Airways' airport lounges. Membership is available through a Sky+ account. Passengers flying on flights greater than 1,150nmi (2,100km) also receive free access. USX's lounges are found at its hubs.

Headquarters
Being one of the largest companies headquartered in North Carolina, USX International Airways is headquartered at a corporate building less than two miles south of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The building has a total area of 12,000 square metres (128,705 square feet). USX operates the top two floors (the fourth and fifth).

Logo
USX International Airways has had two logos prior to its current one. The first logo, developed since USX's founding, was a blue and white rhombus. In 1989, USX changed its text font and location as well as the rhombus to a circle. In 1990, the circle's design was updated to have three parallel lines running through it.

Accidents
USX International Airways has not experienced any in-flight accidents.

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