Delta replacing 50 seater RJs with MD90s

[Flyer1015]

Delta acquires more MD-90s from Japan Air Lines
April 18, 2012​

Delta has acquired seven more MD-90 aircraft from Japan Air Lines, as it continues to replace older, less-efficient planes in its fleet with more flexible, cost-efficient models. These seven MD-90s are in addition to nine MD-90s that were purchased from JAL last year. ​

The aircraft will be delivered between October 2012 and March 2013, and all will enter service by the end of 2013. The planes will be added on a capacity-neutral basis, replacing less-efficient mainline and regional aircraft, including 50-seat regional jets.
Delta has purchased 49 MD-90s during the past three years, and will have a fleet of 65 of the aircraft once all are delivered. All the aircraft undergo extensive modifications before entering service, including refurbishing and upgrading the passenger cabins to match Delta’ domestic fleet. ​

“Our latest MD-90 acquisitions continue our strategy of deploying the most efficient aircraft to specific routes whenever possible,” said Nat Pieper, v.p.-Fleet Strategy and Transactions. “That helps Delta succeed despite high fuel prices and the uncertain economy.” ​

That strategy will continue next year, when Delta will begin accepting deliveries of new Boeing 737-900ER aircraft, which will be used on domestic routes.​

Anyone know exactly how many will be removed?​

 

[Freebrd]

Anyone know exactly how many will be removed?​

sure, ask OysYoYO/Jenny Leigh, she'll tell ya all about it

 

[Max Q]

Unless you've been living under a rock, this was to be expected.

 

[KNOTS]

Two observations:

This is only 7 aircraft

Article says "replacing mainline and regional aircraft" but doesn't give any numbers

 

[On Your Six]

Two observations:

This is only 7 aircraft

Article says "replacing mainline and regional aircraft" but doesn't give any numbers

DL is also keeping the DC9s through the end of next year (was supposed to dump them already), and there are rumors that Delta will get the 717s from SWA as they come off lease, or very cheap A319s that are coming off lease from Airbus. All of those could replace 50 seaters. Instead of 6 CRJ-50 flights per day, you could replace them with a couple MD90s or some A319/717s. The 50 seaters just don't have the economics to stay viable with very high oil prices.

BTW, the additional 7 MD90s brings the total to 65 I believe. And, the board of directors supposedly gave the OK to buy all of them out there. (I think 125 total were built?) There are 29 in Saudi Arabia, but they were left out in the dust, so it may take more time to get them fixed or refurbished. (although one was just flown to Roswell, NM----so we'll see if that could be included someday)



Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[Kaman]

This all makes a lot of sense in the final analysis, it is going to be economics that drive the industry. And, not providing "seemless" jet service to the consumer. Ultimately, the mythical pilot shortage is going to solved through consolidation and NOT more pilot jobs. There is still going to be multiple applicants for the relatively few mainline jobs. As an aside, the MD-90 is a very nice airplane...jumpseated on one yesterday. Delta has the "dumbed" down version that is more akin to their MD-80 cockpit, unlike the all glass version that was also available when they were introduced. More like a 717 set-up. Anyway, I hope that everyone lands on their feet with a job when the dust settles from all this chaos that is the airline business.

 

[Freebrd]

All of those could replace 50 seaters.

and ALL of those (md90s), and more, will replace the DAL 9s eventually

 

[ASA_Aviator]

Seemless isn't a word.

 

[Raskal]

Seemless isn't a word.

sew it would seam

 

[filejw]

150 50 seat a/c is the right number for Delta system we have been told.

 

[B727FA]

The 88 717's would replace the '9s and get the 50 seat RJ fleet sub-250.

 

[LearLove]

damn those mainline scabs taking express routes

 

[The Drizzle]

damn those mainline scabs taking express routes

I snorted.

 

[General Lee]

The 88 717's would replace the '9s and get the 50 seat RJ fleet sub-250.

No, it's either 120 717s or 75 A319s from the rumor I heard. All used, of course. Just rumors out there.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[JumpersAway]

I hope this is true. It will also be interesting to see how the pilot hiring plays out over the short term. If DAL waits until 2015 to hire, they will be losing quite a large number of qualified applicants to United/Continental, whom is supposed to begin their hiring in the fall. Pilots will be a commodity in the future picture- going to be very neat to watch this unfold.

I was VERY suprised to hear of DAL's decision to delay hiring, as I figured there would be difficulty in training the number of pilots needed, and that the newhires would have to be "metered" through the training department. I just figured this would mean they would have to hire a tad before they actually needed to.

 

[Noise]

Come on jumpers, you have to know that proactive thinking is not allowed in the airline industry. All decisions must be only reactionary in nature.

 

[filejw]

If you must know they plan on starting up the process in the last quarter of 2012 but not actually hire until 2013 . This based on not having to rebudget money from 2012.

 

[B727FA]

No, it's either 120 717s or 75 A319s from the rumor I heard. All used, of course. Just rumors out there.


Bye Bye---General Lee

The 22 717's at Boeing + the 88 at AT would make it 110. That's about the fleet size I'm hearing floated.

 

[General Lee]

AerSale buying 25 of Saudi Arabian’s MD-90s


AerSale has paid a substantial, undisclosed deposit to acquire 25 of Saudi Arabian Airlines' Boeing MD-90s, according to a source close to the situation.

The Florida-based lessor completed the acquisition of the first MD-90 aircraft (MSN 53506) only yesterday. Saudi will be delivering a further two aircraft later in the month.

AerSale is financing the transaction internally through an all-equity purchase, the source says.

Saudi is selling 24 of the 27 MD-90s it retired from service between 2009 and 2011, as well as one MD-90 it is actively flying as a VIP aircraft for the Saudi royal family, the source notes.

The Middle Eastern carrier will be delivering three aircraft a month to AerSale, culminating in the delivery of the VIP aircraft sometime next year.

Despite Delta Air Lines buying up a slew of MD-90s from China Eastern in 2010, industry sources say Saudi's MD-90 fleet will be more difficult to lease out to airlines. This is due to the harsher flying conditions they have endured, as well as their modified flight decks.

"They [Saudi's MD-90s] are not a standard fit as they have MD-11 style flight decks, making them less desirable in the market," one of the sources notes.

AerSale is nevertheless optimistic about leasing some of the MD-90s to other airlines, while others will be sent for part-out, the first source reveals.

The exact proportion to be leased out will be decided upon following a thorough inspection by AerSale, but the aim is to keep as many aircraft as possible in the sky. "They are still young, built between 1998 and 2000, and have [International Aero Engines] V2500 engines, which is the same engine that Airbus uses," the source says.

AerSale's desire to keep the MD-90s flying bodes well for the future of the aircraft, which has become something of a dying breed. Only 59 of the MD-90s still in existence are currently in service, according to Flightglobal's Ascend Online database, with the remaining 49 in storage. In addition to Delta's fleet of 34 MD-90s in service and 18 in storage, Japan Airlines has a further 12 in service and one in storage.

It is understood that Saudi took the decision to phase out the MD-90s in anticipation of its upcoming deliveries of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft. Last year, Airbus delivered three A320s, seven A321s and one A330 to the airline, and a further seven deliveries have been scheduled for 2012, according to Ascend Online.



Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Freebrd]

lol he's backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk, didn't waste any time posting either