The current fleet is too expensive to replace, plus the system would colapse if one airline was operating pilotless. Single pilot however, is probably likely in the next 25 years.
I just dont think that either will ever happen. I just dont think that passengers that use computers on a daily basis and know that they will always have flaws will ever trust their lives to a computer in the air. I understand some will say that they already trust their lives to computers in many increasing ways. However I dont think they are as visable or dramatic as a pilotless airliner would be.
Then their is another problem. One airline would have to be the first to enter service. Even if it were 30% cheaper fare I think passengers would pay the extra for piece of mind. Management of airlines that still use pilots would just lower their fares to close to the pilotless fare and get concessions from pilots to do it.
Then when the inevitable pilotless airliner does burn one in it would be the end of customer confidence and the end of the pilotless airliner. Not going to happen. There is not even a pilotless ocean liner or city bus. Only things on a track.
Besides, one thing ALPA might actually be good at is a campagn scaring the public out of this idea.
I hope I am right.