Except that's what 100 737-900ERs are for!!! Reality Clamp!!! :D

And yes I know the 737-900ER pays less. So let's talk about that.

Ask yourself folks, would you want the A321/739 to pay equal to a B767-300 if it meant it could give another pilot group who does NOT have WB jets a WB argument?

IOW, if we merge with say....Alaska.....could an arbitrator consider a 737-900 the same as a B767? I mean, if Delta ALPA considers a 737-900ER equal to a 767-300ER, then what does that do for us in an arbitrated ISL situation?

The 739 is coming to replace 757s, 763s (!!), and early gen 320s. That's a lot more than 100 airplanes. It will be interesting (and critical) to see if the 320 airframe life extension is part of this deal.

The 321 is 20,000 lbs heavier than the 739 and carries more people than the 757. It should pay more than the 739, logically (I just gave tsquare an aneurysm). That will also put us in a better position given an AS merger.

Very true. They didn't MD-11 the 787's wing and control surfaces, haha.

Yes, excitement...I remember it well:

http://rumorsandrants.com/wp-content.../05/carl-2.jpg


With all this growth news from J29, I'm celebrating with my new favorite ice cream!

http://cdn1.tauntr.com/sites/default...k-Icecream.jpg


Carl

Well which is replacing the 757s? Because previously you said it was the A321. But now you're saying it's the 737-900ER. So which is replacing the B757s?

Last I checked we have 139 B757-200s, 16 B757-300s, 16 B767-300s, & 69 A320s. And what defines "early generation?" Are you implying that Delta is parking all these airplanes by the end of the announced deliveries?


I agree, but that didn't answer my question.

Both, Johnso. There is always overlap on aircraft being delivered to replace aircraft. I've said over and over that at least some 321s are certainly replacement aircraft. Not all, some. You're putting words in my mouth again.

You didn't answer all of my questions. Could you please answer the other two?

I agree!

Now for a little historical perspective. This is the first Delta buy of an Airbus product since Ron Allen, bought and then cancelled the A310-300 (post Pan Am). Delta had an exclusive supplier relationship with Boeing for 20 years, which was cancelled when Europeans objected to the anti-competitive nature of the arrangement.

Word is, Delta came "very close" to ordering the C Series and that order is killed "for the time being." The fact this comment is even being made in the same story as the Airbus order says something about the believed capabilities of the C Series.

I'll put $20 in the Delta Pilot's Charitable fund if we don't have C Series on the property prior to a 787. It sure appears we are loading up on "interim" designs. Recall that Richard Anderson placed the order for the 787, then decided he did not like where that program was headed. Now the orders are pushed to 2020 & beyond.

The Airbus order was pretty easy to call due to the price differential. Now it would be interesting if some of these airplanes came out Airbus new plant in Mobile - Brookley with sub assemblies from Seattle. That facility should be making airplanes in 2015.

I doubt it, Bombardier limited the size of the C series due to that stupid agreement with China. That basically killed the airplane.

What do you want? For the 757s, all the 5500 and up through 670 are up for replacement. All of the 763 domestics (non-etops) are up for replacement. Without a life extension, 3209-3250 are up for replacement. Also, I believe some of the first delivery 88s are up as well.

I've never stated that all the 321s are non-growth. There is always overlap on deliveries being taken and aircraft being parked. You keep putting words in my mouth for some reason.