Obviously it’s a great time to negotiate with Boeing and I just heard that Techops is putting together their 787 initial cadre/eis team for a possible order.
Any truth to that?

 

Heard from who? Based on what? Seems a little early to be getting an "initial cadre/eis team" together when negotiations haven't even been talked about or rumored.

It's just my opinion, but the 787 made sense before Delta decided to throw down on the 350. The 787-8 would have been a great 767 replacement and the 787-9 and -10 would have filled the role of the 350 while providing additional flexibility for scheduling and capacity/range needs. Now that we've gone the 350 route, I'm not sure it makes sense to see 787s at Delta.

Now, I could see TechOps spooling up to provide service for 787s flown by other airlines.

 

With the NMA on a long term hold the 787 could be our 767 replacement. I think however it made a lot more sense prior to the LATEM deal. Boeing would need to come hat in hand begging!

 

Heard the rumor from people with Boeing connections that a 787 announcement was imminent! A little over a year ago. Until someone can cite a reasonably credible rumor source, I'll believe it when I'm flying it.

 

Techops has a contract with Rolls Royce to service the Trent 1000 engine on the 787, Trent XWB on the A350, and Trent 7000 on the A330NEO.

It could just be a rumor associated with spooling up those maintenance and overhaul programs.

I still wouldn’t be surprised to see a 787 order in the future though. The 787-8 is the closest thing to the 767 if the new Boeing plane doesn’t come to fruition.

 

At one point I had a little inside knowledge on this but as you know plans change hourly at Delta. It was being strongly looked at given a belief by some that the mess boeing has itself in boeing wouldnt have the monetary pockets to start an entire new multi-billion dollar aircraft development program (797) given the max debacle, over extended on 777X, 767 tanker debacle, new USAF trainer development and a whole bunch of boeing/FAA and leadership issues. An unwillingness on some folks part to be more airbus heavy started folks looking seriously at 787. But with the LATAM deal, us in negotiations, all the joint ventures, who knows now. What we do know is heavy checks are coming due on 767's and 75's cant fly forever. Making the money we are, it would make sense to refleet to much more efficient aircraft now to help in the lean times. Just my 2 cents

 

This is it right here. Don’t look too far in to it.

 

What do we replace the 763ERs with? 330s? Or at some point 787s?

 

a321xlr....

 

25% fewer seats on international flights is not going to make a 767 replacement even if Delta wanted a single aisle option which they don’t.