Originally Posted by dawgdriver

"United Airlines is getting creative in its plans to maintain capacity as the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max enters its fifth month. The Chicago-based carrier said Tuesday it has signed an agreement to buy 19 used Boeing 737-700 aircraft."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/17/busin...nes/index.html

Interesting how UAL, who operates a wide variety of airframes, chooses to fill the gap created by the MAX delays with used 737-700s and SWA didn't. UAL likely had a variety of reasons, allocated training slots, parts, etc., but one of them could have been to deny its domestic rival, SWA, the opportunity to acquire the increasingly scarce -700s that represent the bulk of their fleet. I'd be curious to know why SWA elected to delay its hiring and upgrade instead of hedging its bets, securing these aircraft for their ambitious growth plans. SW is facing intense competition from all sides, especially the ever-expanding ULCCs rolling into their markets, I would've imagined it would have taken a more proactive approach. No one can accurately project the MAX's return to service. Given Boeing's handling of the debacle so far, is SW willing to continue its present course of hoping for the best?

LUV to be a fly on the Dallas boardroom wall when this topic comes up