Maybe Uncle Jerry can loan DAL some money....

[XPOO]

Elaborate, please.

Non-original OO CRJ2s (The POS List):

468CA, 471CA, 472CA, 479CA, 494CA, 495CA, 496CA, 498CA, 506CA, 507CA, 593ML, 652BR, 679SA, 693BR, 699BR, 701BR, 702BR, 709BR, 862AS, 863AS, 864AS, 865AS, 866AS, 869AS, 910EV, 912EV, 913EV, 915EV, 983CA, 984CA, 986CA, AND 988CA.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

Why then is AA trying to replace theirs with 737's? So they are stepping up from a DC9 to the MD series? Not sure that's gonna be a good move.

American is dumping MD80s. Delta is picking up MD90s. The MD80 is not very fuel efficient because it has turbo jet engines. The MD90 has, I believe, the same larger turbo fan engines as the A320 and therefore is much more fuel efficient. The MD90 also has an updated avionics package over the MD80. MD90s can be acquired for bargain prices as airlines around the world are updating to the latest Airbus, Boeing, EMB and (eventually) Bombardier products. Probably a smart stopgap move by Delta to get by until Boeing or Airbus introduces a more fuel efficient 737/A320 replacement. I fly for Delta.

 

[redflyer65]

American is dumping MD80s. Delta is picking up MD90s. The MD80 is not very fuel efficient because it has turbo jet engines. The MD90 has, I believe, the same larger turbo fan engines as the A320 and therefore is much more fuel efficient. The MD90 also has an updated avionics package over the MD80. MD90s can be acquired for bargain prices as airlines around the world are updating to the latest Airbus, Boeing, EMB and (eventually) Bombardier products. Probably a smart stopgap move by Delta to get by until Boeing or Airbus introduces a more fuel efficient 737/A320 replacement. I fly for Delta.

That makes more sense. Be interesting how it plays out. I'd say they are ready for that new airframe pronto. Like alot of others.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

I'd say they are ready for that new airframe pronto. Like alot of others.

The BIG hold up on the 737 replacement has been companies like Southwest, Alaska, etc who have kept the production line going far longer than desired by continuing to order the old model. You can't blame Boeing for delaying the redesign when orders kept coming in for something they already had.

The problem is, now you have companies like Bombardier, EMB, Mitsubishi (and now Sukhoi) catching up by building larger and larger Regional jets. I always thought it was a huge tactical error on Boeing's part not to enter the Regional Jet market years ago. It is just a matter of time before one of the Regional Jet manufacturers makes a full blown run at the Narrow Body market (now dominated primarily by the 737 and A320).

There has been a lot of talk of re-engining the 737 and A320 with high efficiency geared turbo fans. To me it doesn't appear that there is enough clearance on the 737 to mount the new engines. I may be wrong, tho. The A320 seems to have more clearance and my be doable.

If I was Boeing, I would immediately move forward with the narrow body redesign and push the FAA REALLY hard to sign off on allowing the new airframe to have a common type rating with the 787. It's a long shot but if successful, it would be huge for the airlines. Less type ratings=less training=less pilot staffing=more efficiency.

 

[AntiJedi]

The MD80 is not very fuel efficient because it has turbo jet engines.

The JT8D may look like a turbojet, but it's really not. It's just a (very) low-bypass turbofan.

 

[Skywest Pylot]

The JT8D may look like a turbojet, but it's really not. It's just a (very) low-bypass turbofan.

That is correct. It was a modification of the Pratt & Whitney J52 turbojet engine, which powered the A-6 Intruder but it is in fact a turbofan. Good catch. Very inefficient, though.