Originally Posted by
Swedish Blender
Roberto, how many DC-8s are actively flying?
I ask this simply because UPS is taking delivery of a couple more -400s then begins delivery of the 27ish new 767s. I haven't seen news of any deferred orders so who will staff these 30 a/c yet to come? 5 years is hard to believe IMO.
Twelve, after tomorrow morning, when 805 is scheduled to join 7 other DC8's at GSO. Four of those at GSO went there in early January, and should come out this month, and bring us back up to 16 in the active inventory. (There are 26 in ROW, but at least 5 of those are not recoverable.)
IMO, predictions are just guesses at this point, even for UPS. Current plans call for a 767 delivery in July and October (to replace the A300's in Europe). For the first part of next year, the "plan" is one each in Jan/Mar/Apr/Jun/Jul. I think these can be delayed up to 6 months by UPS if they desire.
If they do take those planes, unless the economy does something good, I think the DC8 is history after peak, if it makes it that long. Nobody has told me that, but it seems to be a reasonable assumption.