Blockoutblockin

Sad but so true.

Probe

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.

OnCenterline

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...

Probe

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.

Shrek

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

UAL T38 Phlyer

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.

Sunvox

Well that just burst my bubble

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

bedrock

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

jsled

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

UAL T38 Phlyer

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....