Originally Posted by
n9810f
I gotta think somewhere in the deep, hidden offices of Boeing Commercial Aircraft there is a "temporary" slot schedule for 737's beginning in 2003 and Delta's got plenty of space to fill up - if they want it. That's how Boeing has worked in the past...most recent example is American with the massive up-charge in 738 deliveries.
Delta has a something like "preferred buyer" status with Boeing, with "rolling options" all we need to do is give Boeing something like 18 months notice that we want planes, and boom, we're in the pipeline. It came up during the SLI presentations.
Second, I got this off the AP story about this potential order, but I haven't seen this elsewhere:
"CEO Richard Anderson said in a message to employees that
Delta pilots will fly the new planes, not feeder carriers. Delta has shifted flying away from feeder carriers, and has gotten rid of more than 70 of its 50-seat regional jets and 25 Saab 340 turboprops. A jet order will give Delta the size of planes it needs "to be able to replace retiring airplanes and have modest growth when the economy and fuel prices support it," Anderson said"
Makes me think that he's positioning that towards the Embraer and Bombardier - and us. Telling us that if aircraft from those companies are ordered, right now it's Delta pilots flying them.