NWAF16,
Growth has its' costs. 17 Boeing 757's, payments on the 777's and 737's ate into DL's bottom line. Delta is not "updating it's fleet," this is growth.
NWA's numbers were good in the 3RD QTR, but other numbers indicate it is not sustainable. Delta is growing RPM's, Revenues and Load Factors concomittantly. Obviously Delta's "sweet spot" in growth is still ahead of it.
Jan 19, 2008 (Pioneer Press - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- NWA | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- After decades as a mainstay of Northwest Airlines' fleet, the DC9 will be phased out this year.
In a note to pilots this week, the Eagan-based carrier said it will operate 68 DC9s by the end of 2008, which means parking about a third of the 103 it was flying as recently as last summer.
Fleet changes: Northwest Airlines overhaul would ship out older freighters (NORTH AMERICA)
Northwest Airlines, alone among the major U.S. passenger airlines, operates a sizable freighter fleet and plans to stay in that business. But the bankrupt carrier also has a problem that will only grow worse over time.
Its freighter fleet includes several older 747-200s that airlines around the world are finding too costly to operate.
Northwest's fleet of DC-9s is expected to drop from 92 in 2007 to 68 by the end of this year.
The airline is accelerating the removal of the DC-9s from its fleet. Ten months ago management intended to keep 78 of them through this year.
Northwest also will take three 747-200s out of operation this year.
NEW YORK - Northwest Airlines Corp. must slash costs and cut debt to attract the investors it needs to finance $10 billion to $11 billion of new planes it plans to buy over the next decade,
"The fleet is economically unviable in its current state" given high fuel prices, said Luth. He added that the carrier "has a big nut to tackle here on its fleet renewal program."