<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by the-ca-goat:
How 'bout some fact to back that up. The only mechanical I've ever had on NW was an A320 and I don't see 'em canceling tons of DC9/DC10 flights as I walk through DTW or MSP.
I don't mind (and I am ALWAYS right 
) 30+ year old aircraft if they are aesthetically and mechanically well maintained. </font>
Of the 12+ Roundtrips between the East Coast and DTW this year there have been 3 (1 hour or longer) major delays. None of them involved flight cancellations, but all involved DC9-50s. As for facts to back this up...it's common sense that the something 30+ years old has more potential to break down no matter how well it's maintained. That being said, new things break all of time too. I'm not complaining that the ships are old...just a statement of fact. Regardless (and NW knows this) I get to my destination faster on a delayed non-stop than I would connecting on any other airline.