Will SWA keep the 717s?

[MILF Hunter]

Before DOCC the game plan was to absolutely keep the 717s. Now there is some question.

FWIW, I hear Delta has renewed its offer to take the 717s as DC-9 replacements.


Southwest Airlines CEO details plans for growth

By SHERYL JEAN
Staff Writer
[email protected]
Published 18 May 2011 01:17 PM

-Kelly isn’t sure whether Southwest will keep AirTran’s Boeing 717 planes long term or replace them. But he said the smaller markets served by the 717s are “an exciting opportunity” and Southwest will “try to keep these smaller markets for the time being.”

 

[SWA/CA]

No....

 

[tankerhead]

No....

Short on time this morning? Surely you can expound a little. I got my medallion in the mail yesterday so I KNOW nothing bad will happen to this very junior 717 knob-turner. Right?

 

[400ADude]

They are going to get rid of them down the road. Why the hell would they keep an airplane with spart part issues and an assembly line that is closed.

 

[hairball1173]

Because unlike the 737 the 717 does not open like a can of tuna.

 

[400ADude]

Because unlike the 737 the 717 does not open like a can of tuna.

Well don't count your lucky stars yet cause maybe you'll end you up with the 717 after all.

 

[Max Powers]

Because unlike the 737 the 717 does not open like a can of tuna.

Hah....yes they are built like a tank.

The Dallas article is most likely a misquote. Sure they could get rid of the 717.....if you want to pay for massive retraining cost or you want to drop 20 of the new cities you will be flying to or you want to pay the penalties to return the leases prior to 2017 - which is when the first one goes back. Boys and girls the 717s, for now at least, are staying.

 

[gearup5]

For one you don't sell your competition airplanes. It's just a bad idea. I am not sure what you mean by spare parts issues. Most of its parts are either DC-9(MD-80,MD-90) or MD-11 off the shelf parts. Nothing realy unique about its parts. As far as economics, to be determined. If they can make them work great. If not, time to order a bunch of 797 aircraft and move on.

 

[hairball1173]

I agree. Now how do you tune the navs again?

 

[Empennage]

Before DOCC the game plan was to absolutely keep the 717s. Now there is some question.

FWIW, I hear Delta has renewed its offer to take the 717s as DC-9 replacements.


Southwest Airlines CEO details plans for growth

By SHERYL JEAN
Staff Writer
[email protected]
Published 18 May 2011 01:17 PM

-Kelly isn’t sure whether Southwest will keep AirTran’s Boeing 717 planes long term or replace them. But he said the smaller markets served by the 717s are “an exciting opportunity” and Southwest will “try to keep these smaller markets for the time being.”

Especially in light of the fact they are looking at a third fleet type.

 

[BlueandWhite]

I think the 717s are here for a while. We have a bunch of -300s that we are going to have to retire before we think about getting rid of the 717s.

 

[texman]

It will be bigger than a 737 and 717.

 

[GuppyWN]

The Delta deal is a slot swap for -800's. It could be a clean deal if done right.

Gup

 

[Quiet Flight]

Will SWA keep the 717s?

No. At least not according to the CP's I spoke with yesterday. Apparently SWA's gameplan is changing rapidly. They didn't have a timeline but said it looks like the 717 will go away much sooner than anyone anticipated prior to the DOCC.

Looks like this Fur Ball is just starting to take shape!

:beer:

 

[PBRstreetgang]

Because unlike the 737 the 717 does not open like a can of tuna.

It will once the outsourced MX gets their playskool tool kits on them......

 

[Fubijaakr]

No. At least not according to the CP's I spoke with yesterday. Apparently SWA's gameplan is changing rapidly. They didn't have a timeline but said it looks like the 717 will go away much sooner than anyone anticipated prior to the DOCC.

Exactly what I said. SWA bought AAI for Atlanta and their 737 order book. They'll drop the 717 like a live grenade. And until the SLI is done, AAI pilots can be furloughed from Guadalupe as the airframes depart.

A de facto staple job, if you will.

 

[B727Driver]

They also bought DCA, more LGA slots along with the ATL gates. The revenue generated from that justifies the $1.4 billion. BTW, they also bought the employee parking lot forcing Scope, Lumberg, OYS and the General to find alternate parking arrangements.

Nicely put Fubijaakr.

 

[boeingdriver213]

Doesn't matter to me. You pay me, I'll fly it.

 

[Fubijaakr]

BTW, they also bought the employee parking lot forcing Scope, Lumberg, OYS and the General to find alternate parking arrangements.

Now THAT'S funny!

 

[scoreboardII]

For one you don't sell your competition airplanes. It's just a bad idea. .

true, but maybe those planes end up in China as Airbus buys them back, sells them to China and sells SWA an Airbus which will divest it's risk amongst airframe manufacturers.