SkiBum95

I'm hearing that, going forward, the company has decided to lean heavier into A350s rather than more 330-900s. It sounds like the 350 is what they'll need for range/lift. Just had a senior WB LLCP tell me we're going to order approximately 40+ more soon. Mainly -1000s. They'll be going to west coast bases to open up more Pacific routes (Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, possibly Bangkok and eventually India - although I'd imagine that'll be out of NYC). Also expecting to add more southern Europe and more deep S America but those will likely be east coast 330s, as they arrive. (The Pacific & other network info was from the Network guy at a Velvet.) As always, I'll believe it when I see it but the "plan" came from a guy who was very confident in it.

Hotel Kilo

I've posted this before and will repeat it here since it keeps coming up.

First the demise of the 75/76 fleet is premature as you post about it here in APC. They aren't going well away for at least another 8-12 years. Maybe a few 76s get retirement from time, but plan is to keep them flying for the timeframe I mentioned.

We are getting MAX 10. For 2 reasons. One, Boeing is paying us for the late delivery schedule. ,Two Max and NEO have similar seating capacity with the MAX having lie flat. The plan is to use them on transcons and deep Caribbean central and South America flying. Max will resume much if the Caribbean flying from JFK direct to island destinations. We don't want the 7,8 or 9.

I haven't heard the more 350 sub for 330-9. It might just be rumor and nothing more.

We'll see max late 2026 early 2027. When we get them it won't be a trickle either.

Max won't be flying shorter stages as some have indicated. Maybe some ATL-MCO stuff as we can always use more capacity there. My rumor is max pays same as 757/767 rates.

As far as where our pilots are going to flow as the ER fleet is eventually wound down is anyone's guess. Mine is they go to MAX or 330/350 on the A side. I would expect our 1-2 years captains in it to be displaced to something else. They might be able to hold 73 left seat. I do see baby bus going more senior though for the left seat. I think that will likely be a function of the "combined" Airbus training i.e. limited exposure to VA Avenue.

FL370esq

Plato Rhyne once said "we're gonna continue to hire 60 a month for the foreseeable future..." (that was the equivalent of 1,000/yr on a 9,000+ seniority list) and then we inked C2K and hiring stopped almost immediately. Bottom line, don't put too much faith in the pronouncements of management.

170Till5

it’s economy driven. If people are spending and flights are full, why would Delta stop hiring and go park planes? Rate cuts are going to drastically improve the economy.. and it’s not even bad right now

hockeypilot44

Because yields are down? The prices are being lowered to fill the planes. If the prices get low enough, the airline starts losing money.

It’s crazy to me. Our new guys think there will never be another downturn again. I’m also not as optimistic that the 757/767 or 717 fleets stay around as long as planned.

marcal

Can anyone that’s a junior WBA that lives in base give an idea on the credit per month you can get if willing to GS? I know it’s not easy but I’m trying to understand the allure of WBA. All my buddies that are FOs complain about being tired, long van rides, waiting on rooms, crap AC in hotels in summer, staring at the ceiling at night, just to have “dinner” at 2pm body clock in the same 6-10 cities over and over.

Or stay NBA and do transcons, no red eyes, short drives, weekends off, holidays off, etc basically everything opposite of the WBA.

I get WB commutability is great and maybe a morsel of “prestige” but what am I missing?

I can credit 90-100 as NBA without breaking a sweat. So how is it as junior WBA for pay? *I know senior WBA trumps all if flexible on schedule in terms of pay.

PilotJ3

You do know the NEOs are getting lie flat seats? FAA hast approved yet, but they were supposed to be flying already last January.

Gunfighter

Other than ego there is no good reason to bid junior WBA over senior NBA. It's a miserable existence just to pretend you have a 5th stripe. Your comment of 6-10 cities overstates the variety. A junior WBA will see 3-5 destinations depending on base.

Planetrain

4800 Maxes on order. Boeing makes them at 20-30/month. 737-10 uncertified. I’m in the skeptic column.

Link to charts
Wiki on 737Max deliveries

SideStickMonkey

The MAX 7 isn’t even certified yet and at least that’s a preexisting NG airframe.

The MAX 10 doesn’t even have an equivalent flying airframe.