WHACKMASTER

I’ve been wondering this myself. We need to replace 400 aging -700s and the E2 has comparable range and way better efficiency. Would Embraer not give us a screaming deal on that many of them?

It would seat about 125-130 in our current config. The question is would they have the production rate to actually make that many within a reasonable number of years.

OverUnderDone

Dealing with Embraer is the major hassle.

If SWA could secure a stockpile of parts and not have to deal with Embraer corp except for adjusting the aircraft order book - that would be ideal.

Otherwise - there's good reason to stay clear.

Smokey23

I think between the overall glut of domestic capacity right now, and Boeing nearly finished with the anti-ice fix (https://www.flightglobal.com/airfram...159237.article), I'd be really surprised if SWA ordered a new narrowbody at this point. Though my record for predictions here is pretty terrible...

ZapBrannigan

Isnt the extension Boeing was given for certifying a new airplane without EICAS due to expire this year?

arbalist1

I wouldn't think the E2s would be in lieu of the Max 7s, but rather in addition to. They would supplement the fleet plans. The MAX7 is incredibly valuable for those extremely long flights. But what's killing us is the amount of turn time. I think E2s could do short haul and get excellent aircraft utilization with a 2x2 seating config. Think of those California days or even inter-island Hawaii flying.

Softpayman

You would think they would bend over backwards to get a large order from LUV. Like whatever you need, we'll make it happen.

flyguy81

No idea…but the delay in certification is 100% the FAA stalling. They used the -7 to recertify the -8 so there’s absolutely no reason why it’s not flying other than the FAA playing politics. The -7 doesn’t have a plug door. It’s the same plane as the -8 that we’ve been flying for years…but a little shorter.

hoover

but apparently the engines on the 7 melt if the anti ice is on and you're not in ice. Even tho there have been millions of hrs on the same system and somehow non of those engines melted

Request20Right

Embraer makes a solid product and would complement Southwest well. My feeling is that SWA probably feels that the MAX 7 is coming soon around the corner. Because of the dealys SWA knows they'll probably get a great discount for their loyalty to Boeing for the MAX 7 since SWA is the launch customer. SWA has 350 orders for the aircraft, 288 are hard orders and the rest are options for MAX8s.

Imagine if SWA purchases Embraers (which who knows how long they would take to show up on property), and then shortly thereafter Boeing announces the MAX 7 is certified. SWA will have lost loyalty leverage and negotiating power with Boeing to secure deeper discounts. I think SWA is playing the wait and see game since so much of previous decisions have led the comapny to the corner that they are in today.

It seems like in this industry, you either stay loyal to one manufacturer for fleet commonality and get discounts with the purchase of large orders (thinking Indigo Partners, LCCs, and SWA), or you go Scott Kirby method and have both to have each manufacturer battle for your business. Just my observations.

flyguy81

Alaska’s plans for fleet after the Hawaiian merge is to dump Airbus and be a 737 and 787 airline similar to WestJet.

Not that we have a need for WB, but with some fwd thinking from mgt….