Originally Posted by
VacancyBid
Clearly a different airplane - not at all like. But it's part of a very big picture that looks at
1) 737 Max cost on paper
2) 737 max cost real world
versus
1) higher 220 costs on paper
2) real world more likely matching paper
3) scope win
Scenario A may no longer be the cheaper option
A huge part of Kirby’s plan has been gauge. Plans change, of course, but suddenly reversing his entire strategic plan seems unlikely. You may be able to get efficient lift with 220’s but where are you going to put them? EWR, SFO, ORD and LAX are all full AND (mostly) out of space to grow. DEN and IAH are full, but have some room, and IAD is… I don’t know (I’ve never understood IAD).
It takes basically twice as many gates, pilots, landing slots, etc. to move the same number of people on 2 A220’s as 1 MAX 10. It’s not just a cost game in dollars. Part of the problem is that those extra resources just aren’t available. At least not in the near to medium term.