Originally Posted by
PsiFighter37
I am more surprised given the age of these birds (look to be 23-27 years of age). I guess UA thinks they can squeeze another decade out of them if they are on low-cycle routes?
I think the problem is that there isn't a good replacement for the 737-700. It flies a lot of routes that no other airplane is capable of flying except, perhaps, the also old 757.
Airliners can continue to fly much longer than the current 737-700 fleets age. Two jobs ago, I flew 40+ year old DC8 around the world and to some very remote locations.
So what will be the replacement? The only one I see on the horizon is the 737-7 MAX, but who knows when that would be available with all of SWAs orders already on the books and the airplane still working through certification?