Is United looking at the 220?
 

For all the noise Kirby made about the Max10 ... there's no way to replace them with 32X series even if they shake a couple dozen delivery slots out of the world. Only place that might have capacity is the 220 line.

Would United go for a big 220 order to get scope relief and ditch Boeing?

I suppose anything is possible, but loosing a kidney on my next overnight is more likely to happen than that.

I m not like on the floor in Mobile or Mirabel so I ll take your word on the production availability. However Im not sure I share your logic that'd be like for like. Al most like 70-90 passengers less

With Breeze seemingly unable to find a path to profitability there may be a large batch of A220's coming available soon.

Clearly a different airplane - not at all like. But it's part of a very big picture that looks at

1) 737 Max cost on paper
2) 737 max cost real world

versus

1) higher 220 costs on paper
2) real world more likely matching paper
3) scope win

Scenario A may no longer be the cheaper option

united needs airplanes they can satisfy that by switching MAX10 orderes to -8/-9 orders. They have already done this during the delay, it’s why we are still taking MAX deliveries.

what United needs and can’t get, and why Kirby is angry, is a large Domestic narrowbody. You can’t put a lie flat first class plus 150+ economy passengers in an A220.

The A220 and E195 and scope relief is not what United needs.

A huge part of Kirby’s plan has been gauge. Plans change, of course, but suddenly reversing his entire strategic plan seems unlikely. You may be able to get efficient lift with 220’s but where are you going to put them? EWR, SFO, ORD and LAX are all full AND (mostly) out of space to grow. DEN and IAH are full, but have some room, and IAD is… I don’t know (I’ve never understood IAD).

It takes basically twice as many gates, pilots, landing slots, etc. to move the same number of people on 2 A220’s as 1 MAX 10. It’s not just a cost game in dollars. Part of the problem is that those extra resources just aren’t available. At least not in the near to medium term.

Fair point

This is why A321 delivery slots are about to become a very valuable commodity. It will be interesting to see what large holders (Indigo and Spirit) decide to do with theirs. Could we see a bidding war for them?

Really too bad Boeing didn't make the 757 NEO and their obstinate desire to stall until they can make the 797 single pilot is letting Airbus run away with the large narrowbody market.

IAD is one of the only hubs that would be benefit from smaller gauge aircraft honestly. IAD international O/D is strong however its domestic O/D numbers get pulled down because of AA hub at DCA. That’s because of the combination of the perimeter rule and majority of NOVA/DC population being closer to DCA.

It’s a great reliever hub to EWR and offers better/more reliable connections for east coast markets.

Supposed to get 34 neos for 2024, now getting 14 because airbus can't deliver. Now they want others to defer?? How about just deliver original order.