Originally Posted by
sailingfun
It seems no airline can justify the whales. They are being retired as fast as airlines can park them. Keep in mind that Delta's 747-400's are among the very oldest flying. NW was the launch customer if I recall correctly.
I doubt this will happen but there might be a glimmer of hope. The jets being parked are leased. Perhaps were playing hardball on the lease rates. The value of the jets is scrap value only. The owners at best can part them out. Since Delta has not displaced pilots perhaps it's a ploy for lower lease rates. Still no one seems to want them worldwide and the economic numbers for parking them were compelling when given to the union.
While NW was the launch customer for the 747-400, the ones being parked immediately are not the oldest. They are not the ones with the worst MX histories, they are being parked due to lease negotiations. 6311,6312 and 6316, two are mid aged, maybe 20 years old. 6316 was delivered in the 2003 time frame. The sole "old plane" 6301, is being used as a spare until the end of the year.
As a bit of 744 trivia, 6301 was the first 747 produced, but was not delivered to NWA for several years. it was leased back by Boeing for testing. 6302 was delivered in 1988.
I too suspected they were playing hardball with the leasors. the bankruptcy saw amazing rate reductions. Some of those leases are up for renegotiations. I think that the lessor called our bluff... negotiations are only as strong as your willingness to walk away from a deal.