nteresting read. UA is a great case study "how not to build your fleet". Spend a few hours at ORD and I am sure you can see almost every type of plane built in the last 20 years there in UA colours. I know that is more than a bit of exaggeration but boy do they cover the spectrum. I once read an article when that when BWIA leased two A321's they purchased 5 mill US worth of spare parts. If that is even halfway accurate imagine how much money UA has tied up in spare parts.

AC has done a much better job of rationalizing their fleet as they have renewed it. The A319, A329 & A321's use a high percentage (I once heard 80%) of the same parts and once the pilots are qualified on one they can fly any of them. Same holds true for the A330/A340's. Makes it much easier for scheduling. I keep hearing that they are looking to dumping the 747-4's but read on another thread they are bringing one back on line. Add the 767 and RJ50 (they will go to Jazz as soon as they can get the Pilots union to agree) and AC's fleet already has only 5 different aircraft.