Delta Pilots in the forums are saying there is a lot of chatter on Delta wanting to acquire A321.
Makes sense considering they do A319, A320 and A330 now. A321 is slightly better than the 737-900ER they are acquiring and this will help to modernize the fleet further.
This isn't a.nut. It makes sense. I expected either Delta would acquire A321 or extend 737-900ER options.
-Not all of the 757s are going to be retired within the next 5 years. There are many young ones (which I believe a lot of them are ex-Song and have the PTV equipment in them)
-739s are on order coming later this year I believe
-739s will be replacing older 757s (particularly ex-NW), A320s, 763s
-DL still has 753s and the younger 752s
-By the time that MD-88s will be due for retirement (around 2018) some more 757s, A320s, and maybe even 738s (they will be 20 or so by then) will probably be going too. There will likely be a mass order to replace those. DL will probably want to have one common fleet, and the A320neo/737 MAX will be out by then.
I think the A321 could be a 757 replacement (US Airways is basically doing that) but it makes no sense for DL to acquire it when there is a plan for 739s right now and new a/c designs coming out when the entire 757 fleet will be due for retirement.
I think if DL wanted the A321 to replace 757s they would've ordered it since it would be ideal configuration-wise.
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I have no doubt about it. DL will orders the A321neo or DL will used 757-300 from DE. If they sell the older 757-300. I wasn't sure if DL will acquire some A330, A340, 773, and etc.
The fact is the airline is hyper competitive and the 737 and A32x are the current choices by the airlines for mostly domestic based service.
The 100 737-900ER was a start but they still need more planes. Since they have both Airbus AND Boeing fleets right now, a combination of 737-900ER and A321 would fill the void depending on the prices you can acquire the jets. If Delta got a better deal from Airbus and/or if they need the A321 on flights that the 737-900ER can handle, it would fit.
I have no doubt A321 were considered vs the 737-900ER by Delta. A321 and 737-900ER are both in the same range give or take.
Remember 737-900ER was selling poorly and Delta got a good deal on the 737-900ER.
But if Airbus gave Delta a better deal on A321, then obviously they would acquire the A321 as well instead of more 737-900ER this time around.
So the lucky duckies in F don't have to suffer the rest of the plane walking thru their area. This seems to be a big deal to some people.
Well, it enhances the changes of a PDB... relative, for example, to a MD-88, where the FAs are sometimes unwilling to elbow their way through the crowds to take orders.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheMadBrewer
So the lucky duckies in F don't have to suffer the rest of the plane walking thru their area. This seems to be a big deal to some people.
So, there are some airlines using B737 door 2L to board - - - FROM THE REAR???
Now that I think about it, I guess some airlines do board from the rear. I've dunnit on EasyJet, but, I'm sure that's not what we're talking about here, unless they board F from door 1L and Y from 2L waaaaaay in the back! That way, there's absolutely NO chance of Y kettles coming in contact with F pax!
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While the A321 does have an L2 door, I don't believe it's usable for boarding with a bridge because it puts the bridge too close to the engine. Also on some A321s the L2 door is not a full size boarding door but rather an emergency exit.
It's too bad Airbus didn't take L2 boarding into account when designing the plane because its certainly preferable to L1, especially on such a long single-aisle aircraft.
