Jump to content

* * * * *

2004 - Airbus A319


2004 - Airbus A319

Westwind was a major American carrier based in San Diego with hubs at San Diego and San Francisco. A thoroughly Californian company, Westwind was known for operating in a manner different than its competitors. For one, unlike most American major carriers, Westwind confined itself to the Western portion of the United States. Apart from its two hubs, its focus city in Phoenix rounded out its network. The airline figured it understood the Western market and shouldn’t take its chances with other hub markets. The airline was well known for its extensive and historic network of flights across the Pacific Ocean and even though it almost entirely abrogated the transatlantic market, the airline was a major player amongst Transpacific and Hawaiian flights. Management was known for its aversion to change – seeing rapid change as akin to chaos. The airline operated a unitype narrowbody fleet entirely consisting of A320, 319, and 321 aircraft. On the larger side, the airline operated a somewhat more varied fleet of 767 variants and 777-200ERs. Fleet numbers were called fleet designators because they included a combination of letters and numbers. Inflight meals were entirely produced by the carrier and never subcontracted. Westwind had a way of doing business and the institutional culture that did not easily change or reflect the best practices of its competitors. The airline was a stock market darling amongst other airlines because it had the fastest recovery from 9/11 of any American based carrier. Although seen as a beacon of economic stability, the airline’s cash reserves after 9/11 and into the mid-2000s deteriorated. Despite this, the airline’s stock price remained stable and management remained content through this period. However, with the stock crash of 2008, the airline’s stock suffered a major crash. Shareholders clambered for change but management publicly announced that they would stay the course and avoid major operational changes. This was not a popular decision with stockholders who kicked off a revolving door of executives. Competitors smelled blood in the water and began making bids to takeover the ailing carrier and its valuable chunk of the West Coast and Pacific market. Valiant won that bid and announced that the last Westwind flight, WWA 254, would depart Kansas City for San Diego at 11:58 pm December 31, 2009. Westwind officially ceased to exist as the clock struck midnight and crowds cheered the beginning of a new decade two minutes later. The airline's branding lasted a few years longer but no aircraft made it past 2012 wearing Westwind colours.

[Edit: Straighter now]



    Beautiful

    Beautiful

    Why thank you!
     

    Why thank you!
     

    First of all, apologies for my English from google translator, I think it's beautiful because of the rarely used colors in the gallery, I like the simple but outstanding design of the large cross logo on the fuselage and the painted doors are made more striking.
     
    In addition, I think the lower gray part gives a better contrast to the orange, being an A319 baby bus, I think it is complementary.