Originally Posted by
SureJetz
There isn't 200 700 aircraft currently flying for United....
-25 GoJet (with orders for 25 more)
-19 SkyWest
-20 Mesa
That's sub 100 jets.... The others come from the boneyard and Air Wisconsin flies them in replacement for their aging 200 fleet? That's 50 more.. Still sub 150 jets. Where do all these planes and pilots to fly them come from?!?
United has other stronger cards to play with the heavy 767/787/777 planes. That's where their leverage comes from.
You are making the mistake of assuming everyone is keeping the 700s when the market is moving away from it. If Delta decides to start replacing Endeavors 700s with 170s (which has been rumored for a while) for a start. Or replaces them with 220s at mainline. There are already a bunch parked in the desert. Most of the 550s made already came from the boneyard. If United wants to throw enough money around the airframes are there as many airlines are looking to get rid of tired 700s for brand new 170s. Over the next couple of years there will be plenty of used 700s around as airlines park them and replace them with newer aircraft.
Your argument doesn't hold water. United pilots do not care about the 550.
Yes they do. What I said about United plans for the 550 comes from a very good source.