Originally Posted by FlyingSlowly;[url=tel:4023148

4023148]The 319s, 737-700 and 320s at United are not getting any younger. The A220-300 and the (most likely forthcoming) A220-500 replaces everything up to a 737-800, but at a much lower operating cost.

Up-gauging does not work out of smaller markets if you can't sell more than 130 (A223) or 150 (A225) seats profitably.

The opportunity cost of more domestic First class on these planes is also very low at one seat per row. And some markets just don't call for premium lie-flat seating.

Even if United doesn't get Delta's kind of A220 deal from Airbus, they might from JetBlue as part of a divided sale. It would also stop Delta from getting more of a very comfortable and competitive aircraft at a cheap price. Further, United's legacy birds cannot financially compete with the A220, they're just not in the same league for operating costs.