Originally Posted by AirCoxswain

The only thing the 717s do really well is have zero capital tied up in them. I agree with you that there's no way we're getting MAX 7's, but would characterize the demise of the -700s differently. They were a niche sub-fleet and we got rid of them in the interest of simplification. It was the same logic behind getting rid of the 777. Both left during covid to shed costs. -700's were absolutely peak 737, but we also had 319s, and they decided to keep those instead. We only needed one to do the flying. We'd probably prefer 220-500's to fill that niche if Airbus would make them.

Back to the 717's though, they were a convenient upguage option for RJ flying when the regionals were really strapped for pilots coming out of covid. The 220 was ordered specifically to replace it and is easily capable of doing the flying. It's just that once network realized all the other things they could do with the 220, it turned out we could make more money by opening up new long thin routes and put a high quality product on our flying into other airlines' hubs. The 220 will eventually replace the 717s once we get enough to satisfy those additional opportunities first and then, pick up the regional flying.