Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I don't think Delta wants anything to do with the 717. I would be shocked if they picked any up. In fact I will be shocked if they purchase anything that will hold less then 130 people in a two class configuration.
I gotta agree with you on this Sailing. I have long thought that the 737-800 was our best 100 seat replacement. In effect for the same price as a 130 seat jet, you have the flexibility and efficiency to go from 100-152 seats with decent range, mx commonality, etc.
Then we merged with NW and the airbus showed up. The same arguement for the -800 goes for the airbus except it is also more comfortable in the back.
None of this takes a critical look at life cycle costs and I dont recall the efficiency comparison between the 73-8 and the 320/321.
If DAL can get a sweet deal on 717's (Airtran got AA's 717s for .60 cents on the dollar for a stock swap - so our deal would have to be way better today) and sort out the engine costs, I cant think of any reason to turn them away.
When is Boeing going to re-open the 757 line again?