Originally Posted by
GW McLintock
I agree... but what choice do they have
Pay to reconfigure them with 200 seats and install IFE and Fly-Fi, fly them around with 220 seats and a 5th FA (while demand is at an all-time low)... or just leave them parked at minimal cost? I think this is an instance of cutting their losses. Nobody else wants these planes right now.
-J.
Or they could defer more all-core NEOs, which they actually don't need right now, convert the leased birds to mint config, so they can use them on these EWR transcons. They are now up to 5x on LAX and 2x SFO. Not sure where they are finding the aircraft for these. In a year, negotiate better term for leases, since the market demand is way down.
From what I can see, the immediate A321NEO deliveries are all 200 seaters.