Why again does this thread even exist? I'm pretty sure there's another website out there for this type of wild speculation. And it's just that, wild speculation...

I read it on the internet. It must be true! A Delta pilot told me.

At airports that do not have jetbridges, like BGI, I have boarded the 737 from the rear. With both door options avail, loading and unloading is a breeze.

I for one would like to see the A321 flying under the DL flag.

If so that's disappointing. One of my favorite things about the 757 is 2L boarding, as indeed, FC gets its own private space.

This is totally an A.net thread. Even starts the same way.

On FT we just post the press release when Delta announces the purchase. ;)

Ya, there is never any speculation on the Delta Skymiles board. The "Skymiles Change Rumor?" thread is only 192 pages long. ;)

What happens on a.nut...

India Bravo Tango Lima

P.S. I find rants on the conspiracy against Clayton Osbon more appealling

I personally think all airlines should adopt that giant over-the-wing-thingy boarding bridge that KL uses on the 744 in AMS....don't even let steerage enter in front of the wing. :D

I have to be honest, I would hope not, Delta should stick with Boeing!

at KRP Norwegian/Jet Time do this. It's quite cool, especially walking out on the tarmac as it is the only plane there. Cimber Sterling folded so thats the only airline flying through right now!

A thread which I started.. lol ;-)

Off topic somewhat, but I've always thought Boeing made a huge mistake in killing the 757 program. It's as versatile an airplane as any around -- capable of transatlantic, long haul and short haul high density domestic and able to use airports like SNA and DCA. For a 30-year-old design, it's proven its worth. I never understood why Boeing didn't simply come up with a more fuel efficient 757NG with a bit of structural lightening using composites and upgrading the avionics to something along the lines of the 764.

And, yes, the left turn to F is a nice touch in the design...

Delta has 100 confirmed 739-ERs on the way and they start taking delivery this year. We also know that the NW A320s are hitting the end of there life which means that 68 Aircraft over the next 5 years or so need to be replaced. Now Delta could replace those aircraft with 739s for parts commonality, however that now means you have air crews and MX crews that now need to be retrained on the Boeing aircraft. So you now have to decide is it cheaper in the long run to take A319 / A320 crews and drop them into A321s and continue to have two different air frames worth of spares on hand, or do you take those crews off the line and spend the money to send them to the school house for 3 months?

We also know that in the Delta Pay scale there is a pay grade specifically for the 739 that fits between the 73G/8 and 752/753/763 brackets, and there have been multiple sources saying that there has been talk about adding the A321 to the 739 bracket suggesting that Delta is in fact ordering A321s.

Personally I would prefer an entire fleet of Sky interiored 739s over A321s but that's just me.

^

Keeping the 757 going was much more expensive that coming up with the 739. The 757 was going to be a whole separate line for a fairly limited capability (specific but limited) aircraft. No one was going to pay for the 764 upgrades on a 757 was the yield is just too low. If they had managed to get the tanker deal when it was first up for tender in the nineties (which they still might but its too late now for the 757, still hope for the 767) they may have thought of keeping the 757 going as is with some upgrade of the avionics. A new wing was going to just too much as the 757 wing was a special design already whereas the 764 was an adaption of the 777 to the 767.