brownie,
The 8 issue predated the DHL announcement. I think it has more to do with the stated UPS objectives from last OCT/NOV to pull alot of the 8's outta ROW to use for peak 2008+, then, it would depend on volume. Again, all info from late last year. Additionally, UPS ordered all the 767's that start showing up next year. I personally was curious to see if UPS followed through on reducing present crews to staff the new 767's ordered in 2007. It looks like they have decided not too reduce to much. They have maintained the staffing levels on the 8 even when they parked the 8's as they originally stated. The $64 question that even UPS didn't know, exactly how many they wanted beyond 2009. I suspect they wanted to ebb and flow the fleet, park some in ROW and bring back out for peak each year till aircraft removed from service.