Future of MSP NB base
 

The 220 base was opened with a real bang. What's the future of MSP for the 320/737 given the continuing deliveries of the neo, the coming max 10 deliveries, and the possible parking of older 320's and 737-800s? It sometimes seems like the company doesn't want to base to be too big, perhaps due to the family leave laws, etc. here. Is throwing nearly 400 220 pilots here going to be balanced by reductions in the other two NB fleets (by attrition), or will the neo and max deliveries keep those categories at their current level or higher over the next couple of years and beyond?

What are your thoughts?

Hard to tell. Wouldn’t shock me if there was some level of shrinkage. But at the same time, new hires have been awarded msp on AEs in the last 2 months so they’re still staffing the 73 and 320.

In the short term, while they are staffing up the MSP 220 base, as you note they seem to be reducing the flying and bid opportunities for the 320 and 73N (which is logical, in a way). But it won't be too long before the 220 is staffed up, and with ~100 321NEO deliveries to go, plus another 100 Max10's, it is inevitable all the bases will grow in the medium term. By how much is unknowable.

Teehee…….

char

Precovid MSP North side was almost all regional jets. A, B and the vast majority of C gates were occupied by ERJs and CRJs. And they "planned" to open a 717 base there. I don't think it's any state law stuff and more just a return to normalcy.

-replaces RJ flying and brings it to mainline
-upgages that flying
-Replaces the soon to be retired clapped out NW 320's
-Replaces the 717 on DLs original intent of opening a small NB base there.

I think you'll probably see some shrinkage on the MSP320 side that's doing all the flying I used to do on the RJ there.

We've been having this same discussion about NYC on other threads as well. So far, it seems as though the company plans to mega base DTW/ATL 737/320 and staff NYC/MSP via rotation flow-through and overnights. I have no idea if MSP is in this same boat, but that certainly seems like the case in NYC. Essentially, shrink the base to the amount of valuable (reliable) locals, and flush out commuters.

If I had to guess, the company will keep 321s in MSP for core routing, but replace the 319/320 flying with 220s. That could shrink the 320 side of things. The wrench in all of this is - what's going to happen to sun country? If Allegiant largely abandons MSP, I can't see why we would shrink.

Also, genuine question…. aside from a NW legacy base, what does MSP provide that DTW cannot? Real question.

Timely gate crews

haha. Nice.

A lot of money. Last I heard, MSP was second behind ATL.

This is good reading. I'll take a 787 base please and thank you.