Fleet Discussion and News
05-09-2018 | 06:31 AM
#641
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,982
Likes: 0
From: A320 Captain
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.
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.
05-09-2018 | 06:35 AM
#642
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
Boeing recently put the stop to new 767-300 pax version rumors..They said that would require a parallel production line and that they decided not to put resources into that.
Plus the article above specifies A330 NEO's and the 787...I have recently been saying the best way to fix the 767-300 pay issue is to replace them with A330 Neo's
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/...7-revival.aspx
Plus the article above specifies A330 NEO's and the 787...I have recently been saying the best way to fix the 767-300 pay issue is to replace them with A330 Neo's
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/...7-revival.aspx
05-09-2018 | 06:46 AM
#643
Line Holder
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 740
Likes: 19
a few admittedly ill-informed thoughts on this:
I keep hearing about possible re-engined 767s but also hear elsewhere that there's really nothing out there in the thrust/weight class to do the job properly. If that's the case it's hard to imagine RR or anyone making a low production volume engine for this purpose alone - unless it could also work for a future 797.
On us ditching the 350s... we just bumped our order from (I think) 30 to 40. We seem to be going in the wrong direction if that's the plan.
As far as the 330 vs 787, my guess is the right screaming deal would lean us towards the 330, since we're already planning 350s and there's no full sim course needed to switch between from what I understand. That being said, if the Iran deal is off then maybe Boeing is also looking for new customers for 787s.
I keep hearing about possible re-engined 767s but also hear elsewhere that there's really nothing out there in the thrust/weight class to do the job properly. If that's the case it's hard to imagine RR or anyone making a low production volume engine for this purpose alone - unless it could also work for a future 797.
On us ditching the 350s... we just bumped our order from (I think) 30 to 40. We seem to be going in the wrong direction if that's the plan.
As far as the 330 vs 787, my guess is the right screaming deal would lean us towards the 330, since we're already planning 350s and there's no full sim course needed to switch between from what I understand. That being said, if the Iran deal is off then maybe Boeing is also looking for new customers for 787s.
05-09-2018 | 12:07 PM
#645
Squawking 2000
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Skeptical
Looks like Boeing and Airbus will indeed be in fire-sale mode for a while:
“U.S OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS FROM IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL – $38 BILLION OF ORDERS CANCELED”
https://airwaysmag.com/industry/us-o...ders-canceled/
“U.S OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS FROM IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL – $38 BILLION OF ORDERS CANCELED”
https://airwaysmag.com/industry/us-o...ders-canceled/
05-09-2018 | 12:50 PM
#646
Line Holder
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Looks like Boeing and Airbus will indeed be in fire-sale mode for a while:
“U.S OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS FROM IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL – $38 BILLION OF ORDERS CANCELED”
https://airwaysmag.com/industry/us-o...ders-canceled/
“U.S OFFICIALLY WITHDRAWS FROM IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL – $38 BILLION OF ORDERS CANCELED”
https://airwaysmag.com/industry/us-o...ders-canceled/
05-09-2018 | 02:13 PM
#650
Squawking 2000
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 737
Likes: 0
From: Skeptical
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