Originally Posted by
georgetg
There is no 757 replacement. Nothing comes close to payload/range
But as much as we might be fans of the 757 it's days in domestic service are numbered.
The ETOPS 757 on the other hand will remain in DALs fleet in niche transatlantic service for the next 10-15 years.
The 321neo is a gamechanger....
The 321 with sharklets already offers a
17%/seat fuel burn advantage over the existing 757-200; that's already massive.
The 320neo family will offer an additional 10-16% improvement over that with the
PTW1000 (GTF) or the
CFM LEAP-X.
The 321neo will offer a nearly 30% fuel burn advantage/seat over the existing 757, this is a no-brainer, there is no need to wait for a clean sheet design.
The 321neo with sharklets can do full payload trans-cons and Hawaii from the West coast, it is a game changer.
In addition the MRO expenses on the 321 are not much over the existing 320 family below the 757, offering additional savings.
Why should all this matter to us as a pilot group?
It's not about Boeing vs Airbus as much as it's about shifting a significant portion of the 7ER flying to the lower rungs of the payscale.
The 7ER category will shrink significantly with the introduction of the 321neo. I only bring this up because as a pilot group we need to be aware of this big shift that is coming our way.
I wouldn't hold my breath on the C-series, the fuselage is still aluminum and the wing composite, It's not that much different from existing designs and will be capital-intensive for the mission it serves, that's why DAL is getting MD90s...
Cheers
George
I agree on the 321. It will make the 757 a niche aircraft to those high hot airport. I do agree that the 757 will never be revived, but one can dream!
The nice thing about the 757 is that we fly so many of them that the pilots can do a wide variety of missions.
Also we have a precedence in pay rates. They bring the 321 on, it will require a sub category override or a blended rate that the 73N 320, DC-9 and 7ER now have. I am sure the MD's will be the end of the next contract as well. The point is that we have that practice on our side.
Like I said, I would floored to see DAL sign on to a huge NB order that would total replace a fleet with a large number of deliveries prior to 2020. If anything we may see this stuff start arriving in 2015 and beyond.
We may see a C-Series size small order, and a large jet order, but the MD-90's will be a band aid until DAL is 1005 willing to commit the capex on a brand new fleet. You do make a good point that if the 321, and 320Neo are bought, the savings may be enough for DAL to wait until the true next gen stuff is proven to be workable. I do admit that is RA's way. I just do not think the 757's will be replaced on a large scale.
If they go this way, they will probably start with 320 replacement and then move in to 757 replacement as time moves on. That makes more sense to me.