tomgoodman

What if he was talking in his sleep?

Ed Harley

I love this rumor and I hope it happens, however I'm very skeptical. Delta management (and former NWA mgmt) don't like buying new and expensive airplanes for short-haul flying stuff. Reason being that it's very difficult for them to make money when they're not in the air for 12-14 hours a day. We have no problem buying new and expensive airplanes for wide-body and coast to coast airplanes because we keep them in the air for 14-18 hours a day. During certain times of year our DC9 and 88's would only fly 8 hours a day. Not a big deal to have your airplanes sitting on the ramp for hours a day / night though when they're paid for or payments are low (E190 or used Airbus, etc...).

I think this is still just Delta negotiating with Boeing and Airbus to get a better deal.

David Puddy

You may be correct about the negotiation posturing with Boeing/Airbus/Embraer. However, Delta has recently ordered A350s before they were operational with their first customer - Qatar Airways. Also, you get what you negotiate... Bombardier needs a big deal with a legacy carrier and no doubt is ready to do a big deal after Republic cancelled its 40 CS300 orders in bankruptcy. I imagine Delta would like to have a flexible solution with a 110 seater (CS100), 125 seater (CS300) and rumored 150+ seater (CS500) allowing for maximum flexibility and efficiency. Why should Boeing and Airbus protect their duopoly? Any big deal would mean very low per-unit pricing (Air Canada just negotiated a great deal for up to 75 CS300s).

With regard to utilization, SWISS intends to operate their CS100s and upcoming CS300s on up to 8 legs per day around Europe - including into steep-approach London City (LCY). This airplane was designed for both short, high frequency flights and longer, thinner routes (up to 3,000 miles). MD88s, E190/95s 737NGs and A319/20s cannot compare from an operational cost or a versatility standpoint with the new technology (GTF engine and enhanced aerodynamics). If the financing cost can be negotiated down per unit, the C-Series makes even more sense... Time will tell if Delta does the deal or not...

palooza

What was the deal with Delta settling with Republic for $70M in that lawsuit? Taking over that order? I'm new here, throw crap my way if ya want.

Mesabah

It doesn't work that way unless Delta actually acquires Republic as a wholly owned. Furthermore, Bombardier has a lot of open delivery slots for the C-Series.

The problem with the C-Series is not the plane, it's that Bombardier is a terrible company. What kind of support network does the C-Series even have? If Bombardier decides to dump the aerospace division, its most under-performing business, in a restructuring, Delta would be screwed over royally. The C-Series was forced onto Air Canada, that should tell you something.

forgot to bid

Problem with SNB aircraft... is that a real acronym btw? Small Narrow Body? Problem is there are only so many hours in a day it can fly (8 1.5 flights is about max) and at 110 seats there are only so many long range flights for it.

It doesn't make much sense. A 190 order as RJ replacement and A319/321 deal as an 88 replacement. The good thing about the latter is it pays more. Problem is I doubt its 1:1 on hulls.

I say that because there is a multi people rumor of 37 A321s with long range headed our way.

Big E 757

You mean on top of the 45 confirmed 321's?

WhatNow

The company has put out at the roadshows that they need 50 more narrow body aircraft by 2020 on top of existing orders. At the show I attended they did not state if they were replacement or growth. If you go to SD roadshow on Delta net and view the operations initiatives they lay out the fleet plan.

Kilroy

OMG!!!! I heard the same except ExpressJet (ASA) side was going to be purchased and stapled as a B-scale to fly them. Endeavor was going to be later merged with ExpressJet on the bottom of our seniority around 2020. There will be a fence for a few years before bidding down or up. This is great news.

forgot to bid

Yes. Heard it from multiple people.