Originally Posted by
acl65pilot
George, it is a cheap way to compete with Airbus. Boeing has eked a about as much efficiency out of the 73N as the possible could. A new clean sheet airframe is what is needed.
I would like to see Boeing hang a GTF off the 757. It would be a great selling jet. Clean up some of the systems that add weight to the current generation, and you would have an awesome airplane. If I were king for a day, the 757 is the platform I would be using to design a narrow body jet for tomorrow's needs!
The 757 is a expensive jet to build. The 737-800 is 30 percent cheaper on a per trip basis to operate overall then the 757 with only 23 fewer seats. The production line for the 757 has been long since closed and updating the jet would not make sense.
Delta is not looking at near term jets. They are looking to 2020 and beyond and I would be surprised if anything other then MD90's show up in the next 10 years. What Delta is trying to do I think is push Boeing to go for a new clean sheet aircraft based off the 787 technology. Really looking at well after 2020 for those jets. Still if a all new jet is announced it puts Delta in a good place verses many other airlines. We will be in the cycle to replace our current jets vice stuck with jets that are still new but not up to the efficiency of a clean sheet aircraft.
If Boeing does not go for a new jet then Delta is now in a bad position. They will be faced with a fleet replacement requirement but will not gain the efficiencies they need. The airlines like AMR that are replacing their MD-80's now will end up with lower overall costs.
Timing is everything. Delta is trying to force the issue. The new jet has to come as close to 2020 as possible. Every year after that will cost Delta a lot of money.