Originally Posted by
khergan
Kinda feels like a 2024 repeat. I don't think they want to get burned by economic uncertainty, lack of deliveries or whatever else. They can turn those growth airplanes into replacements like they did with the 20 or so A320s just at larger scale if they need to.
This makes the most sense to me as well. Kirby has said previously that they have “a lot of off ramps” with the large order book. I’ve taken that to mean they can retire the old and less efficient Airbus and 737 NGs as well as the 756 fleet whenever it makes sense. When I saw the orders years ago, it seemed too ambitious, but the plan seems to be fill up the order book so the competitors can’t get new planes for a long time. Use the new airplanes for growth until the economy tanks, then retire the old fleets and the hope the efficiency of the new airplanes will cover some losses during the downturn. The questions is, what do you do with all the pilots on the seniority list?