DAL to replace 100 757's with 739's
 

Is anyone else surprised that DAL ordered 100 737-900ER's to replace their 757 birds?

Why take an uncomfortable 757 and replace it with an even more uncomfortable 737 that can't go as far, carry as much, climb as well and looks like a pregnant water buffalo trying to get off the ground on a hot day and full load?

I thought they would have gone another direction.......

What direction did you think they would go? Have you ridden in a new 700 with the better seats and entertainment system? There were only three choices for delivery in 2013. A321, 900 or 900ER. If in fact they have picked the 900ER it clearly outperforms the other two options. The A321 is not a true transcon aircraft so limited on many routes for Delta.

Delta expected to announce 737-900/-9 deal | ATWOnline

Air Transport World says this order may be much larger than just replacing their 757 fleet. Also talks about (which we've been hearing for months/years) replacing the DC9s, MD80/90s, and A320s, but it doesn't clarify if this order will replace all of those at once or if they're making piecemeal purchases to replace each individual fleet. I'm curious to see how large of an order this really is.

For those of us who aren't madly in love with Boeing 737s and know what it's like to ride in them...

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_p_yW75r2CQ...252520down.jpg

Delta needs aircraft in 2013. I am sure there will be another order for the NEO'd A320 or 737 at a later date. We still have a bunch of delivery slots on 777's and 737-800's on the books. One thing to be aware of is there are many types of aircraft orders. Some are very firm while others are simply a option that requires almost no cash to secure. Americans order is mostly future options that can be canceled at any time. If the rumors are true this is for 100 firm orders. I am sure there will be some delivery positions attached to the order that are not firm.

And the 737-900ER won't have this problem? I find that VERY hard to believe. Boeing claims just under 3300 miles, but that's with 2 AUX tanks. What will it do without those?

Not interested in upgrading anytime soon, eh?

"Mostly future options"? Yes. But still 260 orders, starting in 2013, on top of the 54 737's already scheduled between now and the new orders coming on line in 2013.

I think it's more that the 737-900 has not been an impressive product, & we don't want to see our company buy a dog of an airplane. RA has been stating that in order to get the value out of an airplane it needs to be owned for close 30 years. If we are going to buy an airplane and keep it for 30 years I just want to know it can do what Delta needs it to.

I'm still interested in getting hired sometime soon. Is this actually supposed to be a net growth kind of a deal, or just a 1-for-1 replacement?