viva-vegas

Per today's employee newsline "Richard's Report":

"That means that the 727 fleet will be out of scheduled service on Jan. 1. I had already previously informed you that the DC10-40 fleet will be out of service on Sept. 3, 2002. Our two big fleet changes signify the importance of holding our capacity down and being very disciplined about adding back our capacity.

You probably also heard that we are going to delay delivery of a total of six Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft in 2003. We are re-evaluating our deliveries once again in the latter part of '03 and in 2004."

Craig
MKE
http://www.viva-vegas.com

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My Las Vegas Page - http://www.viva-vegas.com

Skylink USA

I liked the Lockheed L1011's on another airline but thought one day that it's time for them to retire. I have a similar feeling (though less nostalgic) for the DC-10-40's and 727's.

I don't mind the DC-9's though.

KGruendel

Does this mean that Hawaii routes will be flown with WBC-configured DC-10-30s after the DC-10-40s are gone? Or will NWA switch to the dreaded 757s on the Hawaii routes??

GRR_FlyGuy

I sure dont like 757's. DC-10's are cool....especially when configured with the extra legroom and reclining back farther....zzzzzzzzz

the wide chair

The 757's are currently not ETOPS qualified so they cannot be used over the water. That of course doesn't mean they can't become ETOPS qualified. Looks like the DC10-30's to Hawaii from September on.

jjvan

All the flights that the DC10-40 is on will be replaced by the 757-300 (757-5800 series)

So west coast to HNL will be a 757-300, and MSP and DTW to HNL will be DC10-30 or 747-200, untill next year, then they will be 747-200 or A330-300.

doc

Please also see:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum35/HTML/003555.html

nlp

I will miss the 727s and their ancient interior. It's the oldest looking plane I have ever seen.

Vegas Agent

Don't know where you got this information but, as stated in a previous post, there are no ETOPS 757s in the NW fleet and there are no plans to certify the 757-300 for ETOPS. The Hawaii routes will be flown by the DC-10-30s for the time being. There are rumors that USAirways will be dumping their A330s so you might see NW pick them up if the price were right...I would still be surprised to see a 330 in NW colors until mid-2003 as they are now planned.

jjvan

I got this info at training yesterday. I am a purser for NWA. I was told that the 757-300's will be over water equiped, and they will fly all routes that the 10-40 fly, including HNL. I asked them about that flight.

B Watson

Welcome to FT jjvan

wldtrvlr

Welcom jjvan. Vegas Agent, I always appreciate your posts. Could you tell me exactly what a purser with an Airline is? I am familiar with Pursers on Cruise ships, but did not know the airlines had them.

motnot

I guess I'll have to "cherish" that 727 flight from May -- was originally a 757 but they substituted the aircraft at the last minute.

Vegas Agent

OK, then we are being given conflicting info. On a recent "On the Line" visit by a VP and a manager (who's exact department I don't recall but he was responsible for bringing new aircraft online) we were told the new 57s will not be ETOPS certified, perhaps the decision has changed. Original plans had the DC10-30s flying through most of the decade...the 30s are the more reliable of the 30s/40s and overall are younger. I was hoping for a 767-400 order or possibly 777 when they decided to have the 757-300 replace the DC-10s. IMHO the 757 is a very uncomfortable aircraft, especially when compared to most Airbus products and boarding and deplaning a -200 is already a painful process...that's just TOO MANY people on a single-aisle aircraft... AND being it will be bulk-loaded, it will only take that much longer to load/unload rampside.

GRR_FlyGuy

I just heard this yeasterday from a 727 pilot that although they will no longer be flying 727's after this year, they still will keep 9 (I believe was the number) of them to continue to do their charter flights (ie, NBA, NFL contracts, etc.)

So, in summary, old 727's will continue to break "flying records" to provide flights to many athletes who have "criminal records"
....DOHHHH! ;-)


[This message has been edited by GRR_FlyGuy (edited 07-11-2002).]