I also understand that your new 717's are pretty much just replacing your DC-9's (plus or minus a couple of airframes). I just read the article about the last one being retired next month. I hate to tell you Gen, your pretty much just replacing planes with anything new that comes on the ramp. Face it, Delta really has no growth on the horizon (just replacements and moving airframes around the system). That's why you keep talking about the retirements. That's really all you HAVE to talk about. When does that start again? FIVE years from now? I wonder what growth SW might have by then? Hmmmm.
Hate to tell you, but it doesn't beat a 300 that's been paid off for 10 years and is easily twice as comfortable because of the width alone. So you enjoy making those lease payments along with the massive pension debt that's hanging over Delta's head. In the meantime we'll continue to fly our fleet that's 85% paid in full. Very few leases. Oh and NO regional jets or pension obligations. See how that really affects the balance sheet of the two companies? Sure you do.
And Bill,
I've ridden on an E175 and it's still a regional jet. SLIGHTLY better than a CRJ700..but not by much. And travelers know that. The Delta billboard at LAX is a joke. Put a real plane on it if you think you can compete. RA obviously likes to use the outsourced labor to try and make the numbers work. LA has 4 million people. SF has roughly 2 million and you guys aren't flying a mainline plane between those two? It's just makes DALPA look like they've been played, again and again like crack addict. Review Wave's definition of sellouts. This route is THE prime example.