737 modifications could affect McCarran carriers

Thursday, March 11, 1999 | 11:27 a.m.

Any requirement by the Federal Aviation Administration to modify Boeing 737 jets would have a major impact on airlines operating in Las Vegas.

The airline that flies the most passengers to McCarran International Airport -- Southwest Airlines -- uses the 737 exclusively while the No. 2 and No. 3 carriers rely heavily on Boeing's most popular jet.

About 60 percent of McCarran's 800 daily flights use 737s.

Airlines that serve McCarran are dependent on 737s because the plane is designed for short hauls of less than three hours. About 90 percent of the flights to and from McCarran are to short-haul destinations.

Most 737s that fly to Las Vegas are configured to carry between 125 and 140 passengers.

Southwest Airlines has an average 140 daily flights from Las Vegas while America West Airlines has 81 and United Airlines, 39.

"The bottom line is that we have been flying this plane for 27 years," said Beth Harbin, a spokeswoman for Southwest. "We fly it exclusively. We feel it is the safest plane in the air. Through all of this, the FAA and Boeing feel that this plane meets all safety requirements."

If the FAA requires a modification, the question then would become who would pay for it.

"We'd have to negotiate with Boeing over who pays for it," Harbin said.

Some of the previous modifications have been paid for by the manufacturer while the airline has handled others. Harbin compared it to modifications on cars when recalls are ordered. Southwest has 284 of the jets in its fleet.

"After 27 years, we know how to service the aircraft," Harbin said. "We know how to service it in a way that wouldn't affect our passengers."

Most of America West's flights to Las Vegas are operated on 737s and the look-alike A320 jet made by Airbus Industries. A representative of America West could not be reached for comment on what impact, if any, the NTSB report would have on operations.

United Airlines, which operates most of its Las Vegas runs as the all-737 Shuttle by United discount carrier, didn't want to comment directly on the NTSB report.

"We are in complete compliance with all the airworthiness directives the FAA has put out on the power control units," said United spokesman Joe Hopkins. "As to what the NTSB may or may not do on March 23 when it holds its hearings, we'll withhold comment until we know more what they're going to be proposing. We're taking a wait-and-see approach."

United has 182 of the jets -- about one-third of its fleet. About 50 of them are dedicated to Shuttle by United, Hopkins said.

Las Vegas-based National Airlines, which plans to begin operations next month, won't use the 737.