Originally Posted by
Smokey23
The -700 is soooo last decade: 175 seats is the future of this airline!
Seriously, I think if GK decided more used -700s were the answer, they'd have more used -700s. We've acquired more than 80 of 'em in recent years (on top of the 40 fAT -700s), but that pipeline seemed to wind down sometime around late 2017ish. Hawaii was mostly where all the new capacity was going to go this year, and more -700s wouldn't really help that. It's pretty much Max's or nothing for us going forward.
For the sake of US manufacturing, I hope Boeing turns this around. Best case it will take a while and it's anyone's guess what the final tab will amount to. As far as SW, 2017 probably seems like decades ago to GK. Once the cinderella, the shiny new MAX quickly turned from the beaming bride to the unfaithful trollop that left you at the alter with a suspicious rash.
Given the uncertain timeline, one might imagine SW hoarding whatever capacity they can garner. They've done it before. Keep in mind SW planned to keep the -300s through 2025, until forced to prematurely and reluctantly retire hundreds in 2016-2017, leaving a sizable gap in capacity. Coincidentally, at the same time, UAL had just cancelled their order for last -700 NGs off the line, leaving Boeing stuck with 60 NGs, to be offered at fire sale prices. Assumption was that SW would logically scoop them up to backfill the unplanned void created by the Classic fleet retirement. Nope, SW was still holding out for the bride. Hindsight being 20/20, I wonder if they regret that decision as SW has now been forced to defer the retirement of their older -700s in order to maintain capacity.
Why they recently allowed UAL to secure what is likely a very scarce number of -700s is a mystery. On the surface, denying growth resources to SW appears to be a wise move on the part of UAL. SW responds by deferring classes and upgrades(??) Airlines seldom succeed playing catch up or shrinking to profitability; ULCCs and majors smell blood in the water coming from their largest domestic rival. The once aggressive, nimble SW is now largest domestic carrier and showing traditional signs of being a bloated, slow 'Legacy creep', more focused on Shark Week and social agendas than market share, sustainability and growth opportunities
Once universally recognized as the gold standard, arrogance and greed have caused Boeing to stumble badly and even it's fiercest advocates are turning away, openly questioning Boeing's leadership and resolve. Hoping for the best at this point is probably not the best defensive strategy.
Popcorn anyone?