August 1981
volume 32, number 4
News about Piedmont. The Up-And-Coming Airline.
y^w FROM THE SOUTH-WEST
Piedmont growth spurs
New $11 million hangar
EAST & WEST ELEVATIONS (
NORTH ELEVATION (
M RUNWAY t TCRHINAL )
Construction of a new SI 1 mil
lion maintenance hangar, designed
to complement the work already
done at the maintenance facility in
Winston-Salem, has begun at the
Greensboro AVinston-Salem/High
Point Regional Airport.
"We definitely have a need for
both hangars," said President Bill
Howard. “By the end of 1983. we’ll
be operating the world’s largest
fleet of Boeing 737s, and we simply
cannot provide necessary support
with our existing hangar facilities.
"We are committed to receive 21
new Boeing 737s in the next 24
months plus the seven 150-seat
727s we just recently purchased.
We’ll need the additional capacity
which the new hangar will provide
to handle the needs of our new
fleet."
The hangar will provide quarterly
and annual maintenance service
checks for 737s and 727s and will
house support shops and work
areas. The Avionics Shop will be
relocated to the new facility and
satellite shops will be set up for
accessory overhaul, sheet metal,
welding, painting, brake overhaul,
fabric, and fiberglass.
The new hangar will accommo
date as many as three 737s and one
727-200 simultaneously. It will
eventually require 250 employees.
The hangar will be located on
Radar Road, directly opposite the
new Regional Airport terminal
building now under construction.
It will be 230 feet by 350 feet,
including a three-level center core
support and shop area 70 feet by
230 feet. The building will be faced
on either side by a total of 250,000
square feet of concrete ramp area
for parking aircraft. Overall, the
hangar, apron area and employee
parking facilities will occupy a
15-acre site.
Completion of the new facility is
scheduled for April 1983.
"Piedmont is committed to a pro
gram of growth and independence,”
Zeke Saunders, senior vice presi-
dent-Operations, said.
“There is no other way to protect
the careers of our employees and
continue to award our stockholders
than to expand in a rational man
ner. This expansion program will
enable us to give our people the fin
est facilities necessary to deliver a
quality product to our customers."
Midyear earnings, traffic soar to record levels
The first six months of 1981
proved to be the best in the history
of the Company in virtually every
category.
Six-month earnings rose 483
percent, more than Piedmont
earned in any full year in the past
except 1980. The airline carried
more passengers in the first half of
this year than it did in the entire
year of 1978 or any prior year and
has improved upon itsyear-over-
year traffic performance for 54
consecutive months. And compli
mentary letters from customers
continued to rise while complaints
decreased.
“Piedmont has a large group of
very capable, dedicated employees,”
said President Bill Howard. “Even
with our rapid growth, our people
have continued to give quality serv
ice, working together to consist-
endy stay on top."
eamings
Piedmont’s record earnings for
the first six months totaled
$13,069,000, compared with
$2,241,000 in the same period of
1980. Operating revenue for the
first six months was $260,338,000,
up 38.7 percent over last year.
Second quarter eamings of
S11.625,000 were 58 percent
higher than in the second quarter
of 1980. Operating revenue
for the second quarter was
$144,047,000, up 35.7 percent
from the $ 106,116,000 recorded
in the same period of 1980.
Second quarter earnings were
equal to $1.66 per share (primary)
of common stock compared with
$1.56 in 1980. Earnings for the
first six months were $1.94 per
share compared with 48 cents a
year ago.
“We’re reaping the benefits of our
new route system since deregula
tion," said Howard.
“For years, we’ve been a feeder
airline, but now we’re feeding our
selves in cities like Charlotte. We
bring flights from smaller cities
into our new hub at Charlotte
where our passengers can fly non
stop to places like Houston, Dallas/
Fort Worth, Miami, and Boston. In
eveiy instance, these routes repre
sent the best service in that market
that there is.
"We’re Just beginning to get the
lion’s share of the market."
traffic
For the first six months, traffic
rose 35.3 percent over the same
period in 1980. Although June
capacity increased 19.1 percent,
traffic was 28 percent higher, mak
ing June the seventh consecutive
month Piedmont has improved the
efficiency of its operation by selling
continued on page 3
on the inside
’ Cargo’s expanding in the wide
open spaces of Texas. Big
news, page 2.
• First 727 200s are ready at the
starting gate. A report, page 3.
> Announcing a new employee
benefit. Page 4 for details.
► Tigers, wolves, and eagles
... Piedmont carries hun
dreds every year. Cagey
crowds, page 5.
• Think snow! Ticket lines form
ing. Ski report, page 7.