After the supposed mergers of DAL/NWA and UAL/CAL, along with AMR, does anyone think there will be any aircraft orders coming for any of them? Boeing seems to think they are all getting ready to start replacing older aircraft. Still no orders from any of them.. B787/A350/A380??

Boeing needs to build a 737/320 replacement yesterday! Not efficient engines you say. Build the ultimate replacement with replacement phases. Rotate the new engines in when they are available. The U.S. airlines keep waiting and waiting but as long as Boeing can sell 737s where the developmental cost is already paid they will hold off.

Is a 737 replacement that necessary right now? With the 739ER and the proven 738, why rush a replacement when we have aircraft that are matching, and in some cases, exceeding the need?

Ignore the ignorance, I fly G5's all day...

CAL has 25 787's on firm order with options for (don't quote me) 45 more. I've heard options around 60 from the training department, but they are rarely correct with any rumor they throw out.

CFM-56 Not efficient? In don't know but at 88 pounds per minute average calculated burn with 189 passengers on board alone without cargo that translates to .465 pounds per person per minute. Based on a cruise speed of 430 knots that translates to about .0469 lbs per seat mile. And thats based on crusing in the low to mid thirties. FLs 400 and 410 the effiency is just trememdous, compared to the good old 72 AKA "Old Smokey" I used to fly.

captjns...

Ever do any cargo flying in the those 727's?

Yes I did. I thought it was one of the more interesting jobs I had.

Plus 2-4 777's and 66 737-800/900ER's. 33 737's coming in 2008.

Comparing the CFM's to antiques doesn't mean much. The CFM's are not as efficient as they could/should be in the 21st Century.

Very true. Call it the 797. A "787" type technology, single-aisle, 125 seat to 200 seat aircraft. I heard that they are working on it, but they need to work faster. I'm tired of flying a plane with 50's and 60's technology. I wasn't even born then.