Narrow Body Fleet Plans
10-28-2008, 03:51 AM
#1
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Narrow Body Fleet Plans
Here is some info on planned narrow body fleet changes after the merger. Some of it is good news most not so good.
The DC-9's will continue to be retired and the category shut down sometime in 2012. There will be 62 airframes left on 1 Jan. No airframes will come back to the line once retired. CASM very high.
MD-90 is still a player if Delta can locate at least 34 airframes. If not and the fleet can't be brought up to around 50 aircraft then the current 16 MD-90's will be retired. If they find enough MD-90 airframes and make the purchase some MD-88's will be retired so it will not be a net gain of 34 airframes.
737-700 fleet will increase to about 20 airframes. No plans beyond that. Aircraft purchased for specific airports and long thin routes. Any additional 737's will be 800's.
757's parked this fall at Delta will be brought back with modified FMC's (goodbye 200k boxes) in the Spring if bookings continue to hold up. Did not mention the parked NWA 757's however may have meant all of them also.
Here is the real bad news. There are no plans for a 100 seat aircraft. Looking at the Bombardiar C series however current plan is to use 76 seat regional jets in that market. Watch for the company to try and trade scope relief for contract changes to allow more in the 2011 time frame. (We should not even think about it!)
737-800's will see more deliveries but limited numbers. Number to arrive will depend on the timing of the next generation airframes from Boeing and Airbus. If those programs get pushed back again look for more 800's. If not then Delta would like to make due with the current fleet and MD-90's until that aircraft comes available in 2018.
Overall not a lot of fleet growth on the narrow body side and we may see a net loss of a small number of airframes depending on the MD-90's. If bookings hold up could be a small increase but nothing huge.
The DC-9's will continue to be retired and the category shut down sometime in 2012. There will be 62 airframes left on 1 Jan. No airframes will come back to the line once retired. CASM very high.
MD-90 is still a player if Delta can locate at least 34 airframes. If not and the fleet can't be brought up to around 50 aircraft then the current 16 MD-90's will be retired. If they find enough MD-90 airframes and make the purchase some MD-88's will be retired so it will not be a net gain of 34 airframes.
737-700 fleet will increase to about 20 airframes. No plans beyond that. Aircraft purchased for specific airports and long thin routes. Any additional 737's will be 800's.
757's parked this fall at Delta will be brought back with modified FMC's (goodbye 200k boxes) in the Spring if bookings continue to hold up. Did not mention the parked NWA 757's however may have meant all of them also.
Here is the real bad news. There are no plans for a 100 seat aircraft. Looking at the Bombardiar C series however current plan is to use 76 seat regional jets in that market. Watch for the company to try and trade scope relief for contract changes to allow more in the 2011 time frame. (We should not even think about it!)
737-800's will see more deliveries but limited numbers. Number to arrive will depend on the timing of the next generation airframes from Boeing and Airbus. If those programs get pushed back again look for more 800's. If not then Delta would like to make due with the current fleet and MD-90's until that aircraft comes available in 2018.
Overall not a lot of fleet growth on the narrow body side and we may see a net loss of a small number of airframes depending on the MD-90's. If bookings hold up could be a small increase but nothing huge.
10-28-2008, 06:21 AM
#4
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Thanks for the minutes from your monthly pow-wow with DAL management. I'm sure this is from a very accurate source.
I think that MD90 rumor's been going strong for over 2 years now.
I think that MD90 rumor's been going strong for over 2 years now.
Last edited by johnso29; 10-28-2008 at 06:28 AM.
10-28-2008, 06:22 AM
#5
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Joined APC: May 2005
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Hey where did you buy your crystal ball at? I am looking for one myself but haven't decided on which model to go with. thanks again on the fleet update I have no doubt it's from a solid "source". 
It's cute that you post your rumors as fact.
thanks again on the fleet update I have no doubt it's from a solid "source". It's cute that you post your rumors as fact.
Last edited by Superpilot92; 10-28-2008 at 06:42 AM.
10-28-2008, 07:33 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by sailingfun
Here is the real bad news. There are no plans for a 100 seat aircraft. Looking at the Bombardiar C series however current plan is to use 76 seat regional jets in that market. Watch for the company to try and trade scope relief for contract changes to allow more in the 2011 time frame. (We should not even think about it!)
We will see many changes to Delta and our union during the merger, but I strongly believe that the former NWA pilots will perhaps bring a stong resolve on the scope issue and change our union for the better. From what I understand NWA tried to get the 100 seat aircraft at Compass but the pilot group stood strong. Thank you and I look forward to flying with you guys.
V/R, Tomcat
Last edited by Tomcat; 10-28-2008 at 07:38 AM.
10-28-2008, 08:24 AM
#8
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Originally Posted by Tomcat
The LAX LEC is holding elections right now and this is one of the issues that I have discussed with the nominees. Since I arrived at Delta in 2000, I've seen the Captain seats leaving on what seems like a daily basis.
We will see many changes to Delta and our union during the merger, but I strongly believe that the former NWA pilots will perhaps bring a stong resolve on the scope issue and change our union for the better. From what I understand NWA tried to get the 100 seat aircraft at Compass but the pilot group stood strong. Thank you and I look forward to flying with you guys.
V/R, Tomcat
We will see many changes to Delta and our union during the merger, but I strongly believe that the former NWA pilots will perhaps bring a stong resolve on the scope issue and change our union for the better. From what I understand NWA tried to get the 100 seat aircraft at Compass but the pilot group stood strong. Thank you and I look forward to flying with you guys.
V/R, Tomcat
To have management think that they can come to any pilot group and ask for scope relief is a complete failure of our unions.
10-28-2008, 10:36 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by Eric Stratton
They may have stood strong on the 100 seat issue but they caved on the 76 seat issue and they had pilots on the street at the time.
To have management think that they can come to any pilot group and ask for scope relief is a complete failure of our unions.
To have management think that they can come to any pilot group and ask for scope relief is a complete failure of our unions.
couldn't agree with you more....... My LEC Officers know me, our MEC chairman knows me. I try to be very visible on this issue. We have failed on this issue numerous times. I strongly believe that's it's up to all of us to hold our union reps accountable on scope.
If you pick up Avaition Week, on any given week you'll see that the next big push by aircraft manufacturers and management is the 90-120 seat range. We better be prepared as a union, because the battle is rapidly approaching. This issue will be packaged in fear and division and we will be told that the company must have relief on scope to be financially viable. I'm not buying it! We are competitive for the CRJ-900, EMB-190/195 and we must keep this flying at mainline.
Tomcat
10-28-2008, 11:46 AM
#10
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Originally Posted by Tomcat
If you pick up Avaition Week, on any given week you'll see that the next big push by aircraft manufacturers and management is the 90-120 seat range. We better be prepared as a union, because the battle is rapidly approaching. This issue will be packaged in fear and division and we will be told that the company must have relief on scope to be financially viable. I'm not buying it! We are competitive for the CRJ-900, EMB-190/195 and we must keep this flying at mainline.
Tomcat
Period.
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