Originally Posted by
ShyGuy
Lease returns are happening, I believe 1 this year and 2 next year. The bulk of leases are up in 2021-2024. The cost, time, and training can be negligible if Boeing is willing to play ball to win a large order after the MAX is certified to fly again.
Originally Posted by
Packrat
That's the key...they're LEASED. Using the same logic, they got rid of the MDs for a single airframe fleet. There's a whole lot of benefit NOT needing two training departments, two parts supplies, two pilot groups, two reserve pools, etc., etc.
This is all truth. There is significant cost savings to single-fleet, including avoiding pilots cross-fleeting for personal reasons. I have a friend at one of the big three who got divorced and decided he needed a new hobby... so he's collecting every type rating on property.
AS is probably a bit small to need or benefit much from two NB fleets, and even though NEO is a better plane than max, AS is (for obvious reasons) not going to do an all bus fleet. 321NEO's can probably do some things max can't but I doubt it's cost-effective to bother keeping a handful around for special missions (airlines which are five times larger have the economy of scale to do that).
Originally Posted by
Packrat
The day AS bought VX, the Bus time on the property was limited.
Of course if there's a merger/acquisition in the works, all bets are off. The 737's could be sold at a fire sale and the SEA HQ staff would be too busy re-apply for their own jobs in DFW, ATL, NYC, etc to care about All Boeing.