Originally Posted by
AirCav
United Airlines plans to retire its 50-seat regional jets by next year, instead deploying larger Embraer regional jets that can seat 76 passengers. The Trefis Team writes that "fleet restructuring focused on replacing older, less fuel-efficient airplanes with new, more fuel-efficient airplanes will add growth to United's results in the coming years." Forbes (8/29)
Imagine that...an airline managed to get rid of 50 seaters without its union telling the pilots some story...
Imagine the laughing stock DL would be if they had green lighted the massive re-engine and heavy check committment to all those insanely expensive 50 seater block hours they could never staff anyway.
Good thing the pilots saved their bacon by allowing them to get 717's.