Sad but so true.

80%+ of current 777 deliveries are 10 across in economy. It is really tight, I believe the number is 16.7 inches wide. Even Emirates 777's are configured that way. I have flown in another carriers 777's configured this way, luckily only on a 3 hour flight. It sucked.

I have also flown a couple times on the slimline seats. Obviously our bodies are all a bit different. The lower part of the seat back is heavily sculpted in. For me (5'11) it was Ok for the cheap seats. Far better than 10 across on a 777. For taller folks, maybe their knees are crunched a bit.

Delta I believe is about to offer economy minus, and Ryanair is buying MAX's with those new "saddle-seats". They are putting an extra exit door on the 800 to allow the cheap B@stards to get off the airplane in the event of an evac.

It ain't gonna get better for cheap passengers, other than the price.

One other advantage to adding seats to planes is often overlooked: when the economy next goes soft, as it inevitably will, the airlines can remove a row or two of seats to keep load factors up. If they can reduce enough to remove a flight attendant, they can really save some money, and also tout, "Look! We made the seats more comfortable!"

IOW, the can reduce capacity without reducing the fleet. Pretty clever they are...:D

That's a great idea. Reducing seats, requires few FA's, fewer sales people to sell those pesky seats, fewer meals, less water.

Think of the savings! Heck we should rip out all the seats. We wouldn't need gate agents anymore, or cabin cleaners. The reduced weight would help reduce the fuel burn so much the bean counters will be ecstatic.

Man, I really need to get back to work on that MBA.

If we parked ALL the planes the fuel savings would be astronomical!!

Fleet......Growth?
 

756 Newsletter released today states 25 of the 767-300s are being retained, vs the previously assumed 35. (A few pages back, the total 767 fleet showed 51 aircraft, which would have meant 35 767-300s).

It also prefaces the article with "Everything is subject to change." ;)

It said the retained airplanes were going to go to a 756 common-cockpit standard. The 757-200Us start getting modded next month; the 767-300s after the summer rush; all work completed first quarter next year.

That would cut the "growth" from 21 to 11 airplanes. Still positive, but not as much.

Well that just burst my bubble :(

I wonder though if the 10 retirements are set for 2015 or beyond?

You're a genius! I see the new airline called "La Amistad Air" has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

I don't know exactly what you are saying but the original plan for the 76T fleet was to park 21- 767-300s (the 3-class non winglet birds) and retain 14 (winglet, 2-class). One was scheduled to go before the end of 2014. That didn't happen. As for the 757s...all were supposed to be parked except 15 PS birds. Total fleet...29 aircraft. The newest version has us keeping 25- 767-300s (vs 14) and no change to the 757 fleet (15) for a total fleet of 40 aircraft. That's a positive. Note that the fleet plan in the first post is for 2015. The 767 retirements start beyond 2015. And as always.....subject to change.

Sled

Sled:

I had heard lots of rumors about the combined fleet plans, but did not know the 767 retirements were 2016 and on----I thought they started this year.

I was using Sunvox's original post for the numbers.

So, using your info, that would mean we still gain 21 for 2015...but possibly decrease by 10 in 2016.

Wait....there was something about 10 777-300s....:rolleyes:

Whoever does this site seems to be on the ball.

https://sites.google.com/site/unitedfleetsite/

New Crew Resources outlook is up on Flying together. Here is what it says about the 300's:

We anticipate that we will begin to convert our 76T fleet to the 756 fleet in the fall of 2015. United has made a decision to retain 35 767-300 aircraft, along with 15 757-200 "p.s." aircraft. These aircraft will be reconfigured to fly summer 2016 as aircraft belonging to the 756 fleet. This implies that our 76T pilots will become 756 qualified between now and summer 2016.
The other legacy 76Ts will leave the fleet rather quickly, and we anticipate flying a very limited number of them in 2016.

That means all of the legacy United 767-300's are staying. What remains to be seen is if some or all are converted into a 2 class config with winglets like the former 52k (then 56k) ghetto birds.

Petty definitive statement on the 787 fence: "We now anticipate the 25th airplane to join the fleet in either late 2015 or early 2016."
Apparently regardless of of any trade for 777-300 orders.

I would be surprised if all 35 are staying...but he said it. As for the conversions, on the current Flight Ops Update, Howard is touting the boatload of money we will be spending converting 3 class 767s to the new 2 class config.

Sled

PS..at least I got the 757 count right! 15 birds. No change. Down to 32 currently.

I heard they are keeping another 13 or so LUAL 757's to fly the islands. At least that was the long term plan a couple of weeks ago.

I had heard that as well, but the latest update makes that appear to be false and all but the 15 PS will be gone by year end 2016

I can see how it might make sense not to keep some extra of the UAL 757's. If they are indeed keeping all the 767-300's then some more Europe markets can be flown by those instead of the 757. Those 757's can then be flown domestically including to Hawaii. Already in effect in some markets as I saw a legacy CAL 757 getting ready to go from Denver to Maui last week.

Not saying I agree with getting rid of a good airplane, but can understand the decision process if that is indeed the outcome.

It also says the plan is to "consentrate" the 320 fleet to ORD, IAH, DEN, and SFO. Does this mean eventually these will be the only 320 bases? It's confusing because right now it shows EWR and DCA understaffed in these positions.

"EGGzalent !"........Mr. Smithers

Actually, Mr. Burns would have said it. Something like this:

Burns: "Waylon, who are these slack-jawed gawkers!?!?"

Smithers: "Uh, Sir, that's the LEC."

Burns: "LEC, you say? EGGGGZalent. I'll dangle the sword of Damocles over them, and strike when they least suspect...."

ST;

I like it. There are empty suits everywhere.

Simply brilliant - LoL :D

Spoke with a Standards Captain today. According to him the article you referenced was written prior to the investment conference so not surprisingly it appears the "pilots" had bad intel, and the investors got the most current gouge.


Also, I saw mention of logic saying something like . . . ah yes keep the 76s so they can fly routes currently served by 75s.

Not possible. All the 76s are today flying Europe so they can not be redeployed to do what they are already doing. I did an interesting exercise this morning. If you combine these two websites you can see where every single UAL plane is going or has been lately. Looking at the 767-300 fleet you can see it is being used heavily in the London market. . .

Flight Aware


The United Airlines Fleet Website

Sun:

The quote on me was mid-thread. First I thought 35 767-300s, then (the quote) 25, then most recently, 35 (and 15 757-200Us).

Which number are you saying is correct? The most recent "35" I read was in the Fleet Newsletter, written by Standards Captains.

Was more referencing the Fleet Newsletter which said 25 767-300s as a final end state and saying that perhaps that wasn't correct. Seems like pilots, even those in management, don't get the "real" answer until after everyone else.