While I still don't think the absolutely amazing deal we got on the 717's was actually contingent on anything in C12 (there was no way they'd have passed that deal up to invest big league long term into 50 seaters they couldn't staff anyway LOL!) Nevertheless, the concept of 717's in at least a vague relation to RJ's was at least in the same ballpark conceptually.

A super premium wide body order contingent on anything RJ is absolutely asinine and I don't think anywhere near 50%+1 will even come close to falling for it, not even with mass quantities of conceptual hope/emotion centric retirement chaff popped all over the place.

I'd like to think we've fallen for the "sign this contract and get x jets!" for the last time.

I'm guessing no hats, snappy jackets and six PS's a year.:D

There was a published statement a while back on the 717. The deal was not as amazing as some thought. We simply assumed the SWA leases. SWA paid for the repaint and interior refurbishment.

I really hope we get some used A346’s from somewhere, for your sake. I know you’re dying to fly it. :)

I think it’d be a pretty fun airplane too. I’d bid it.

I wouldn't probably bid it. I just would want to know its there.

Bummer is no 747s to go with my a346s. That way we could have

777s
747s
350s
340s
330s
320s
737s
756s
764s
717s
88s
210s

I think they underestimate the number of people who would vote yes for no hats and optional winter coat. I know it's enough to swing me to the yes column.

There was (and still is) lots of talk about sheer disbelief at how great a deal we got on them. If it was just a lease transfer with free paint then it could still have been a phenomenally good deal depending on what deal AT got on them. Judging by their ability to constantly salt the fields with ridiculous double digit fares all over the place, maybe the amazing deal was inherited. But either way all we've heard was how unbelievable it was.

In any case, I still don't buy the idea that they would have instead invested billions into decrepit obsolete guzzler 50 seaters that everyone hated and that they couldn't staff. Had they done that, they would have been right back in 2014ish begging for relief and offering another aircraft order deal because that simply wouldn't have worked for ten a few years before collapsing all round them.

Then again, when airline management makes mistakes, they make them in the Billion$ so there's at least president for that theory.

Somebody started a rumor about reengining 50 seaters which was never going to happen. The average age of the aircraft was fairly young and there would have been and has been no major issues keeping them in service.