GL, I believe that is all deliberately manipulated expectations on the part of management. Been hearing the same line for the last 5 years over at N. "We are studying, waiting...".
The fact is no manufacturer is going to commit without a major order, and we are saying there is nothing out there. In the mean time the Scope keeps getting looser and the 76 seaters keep coming. We'll be at 2012 and management will say we need a 100 seater, but there is none, gee, can we put 10 more seats in the E175's or CRJ900? Otherwise we'll lose money and have to furlough and it will be presented as loosen Scope to preserve jobs

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Forget all the SLI arguments about the DC9, it can fly for another 10-15 years as is and you can throw in a $7K GPS if they ever get around to actually modernizing navaids. Fact is right now the DC9 (if the S contingent on the MEC embraces it) is going to save our butt from further Scope erosion.
Yes it is old, cold, but would you rather see it flying in DAL colors or more of the 76 seaters in Connection colors? I'll bet you a bottle of your favorite beverage that if the MEC were to actually draw the line on Scope and say over our dead bodies (intead of take that junior guy) the DC9's life span would miraculously extend.
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather being flying a comfy, cool, glass replacement, but right now that old DC9 and a few words in section 1 are all that stand between us and 1500 furloughs.