Just remember what APC said about reading a chapter at a time. And you definitely don't want to read it right before your flight physical unless you want to get flagged for high blood pressure.

 

More rumors...

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/united-airlines-talks-buy-wide-205939355.html?.tsrc=applewf

 

Well, if this is actually true and if I were a betting man, my chips would be on the A330neo. Airbus has to be chomping at the bit to get orders for this plane. Me thinks they’re about to play a game of “Lets Make a Deal”!!

 

My money is on the 787. Last thing united wants is another sub-fleet.

 

aI assume AA got a smoking good deal on the 787-8s they just ordered. When you consider that with the improvements in the 787-9 over the 787-8, the trip costs on the two airplanes is nearly identical. So, you are basically getting a bunch of extra seats for free on every flight. That would mean you would have to get a steep discount on the purchase price to have a -8 make sense over a -9.

Hopefully Airbus is still stinging from that loss and both manufacturers will be in the sweetheart deal making mode!

Either way, the 330 or 787 are in the top pay band, so it is an increase in pay over the 767.

 

Excellent point

 

My bet is on a 797/MoM aircraft, to be revealed after a TA is approved. It might be initially announced as a 787, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is a provision allowing the order to be swapped to a 797 later. If a deal is announced before a TA, it hands us some nice leverage. I think any rumors of an Airbii purchase are just smoke and mirrors to get us a better deal on Boeings. I do think Airbus would offer us a smoking deal on 330neos, but can't imagine us actually buying any.

 

I don’t see a TA coming out anytime soon. I think that when the Company tries to talk Scope and our NC politely tells them it’s not up for discussion, our negotiations will come to a screeching halt.

 

Anyone notice else notice that in the latest negotiating committee update that referenced all sections of the contract under negotiations didn’t include section 1? Not saying that can’t change, but I take this this a cautious optimism.

 

I think timing, price, and fleet commonality are more at play here.

The 797 is at least 10 years away, and I enjoy flying the 767-300s...but they are getting long in the tooth. Minor electrical glitches (those crappy pushbutton switch/lights that don’t latch, don’t light, or don’t work), occasionally hydraulic leaks, but the biggest gripe is entertainment and lighting in the cabin....an issue when people are in the tube for 9-10 hours.

When I was a new-hire, United had 10 different aircraft types. Each had their niche, but I’m sure there are greater efficiencies in having fewer fleets in terms of training, maintenance, logistics/spares, and the domino effect of vacancy bidding.

I think UA is looking for something to take over the 767 role in 3-5 years. I do think they will play Airbus against Boeing for price, but think they will be reluctant to add a new type, especially with the A350 still a question-mark.

Since the scuttlebutt is we are hog-tied to the 350 because we can’t cancel the Rolls Royce engine contract, my bold prediction: Boeing will build 767s with the Rolls Ultrafan. It will allow us to convert the engine order, Boeing will offer a killer deal to make the KC-46 line more effective, certification costs will be minimized for a proven airframe with a new engine, and the A350 will be cancelled while we wait for the 797.

And we’ll get them in 4 years.

Unless: Airbus makes an offer so cheap, and available within 2-3 years, that we just can’t turn it down.