What will happen after delta retire's all of their 737-300s

[futuraapilot]

Just look at this link!
http://www.delta.com/prog_serv/delta...dule/index.jsp
those flights are all served by 737-300S. My question is what other aircraft will they use to replace them? These must be very important flights due to the fact that there are soo many so i am wondering what will happen.

[Doug Taylor]

There's like 9 -300G's that the lease is expiring on.

[futuraapilot]

You mean that delta will just lose 9 733S
BTW, how do some people know your schedule, like that "possible doug sighting thing"?

[Doug Taylor]

Might be when they see a guy who resembles that strange looking feller on the http://jetcareers.com website!

[Maximillian_Jenius]

I have always hoped that when Delta retires their 737-200,300's. They will purchase/lease Boeing NG 737-700's to replace them.
The 737-200/300's are the smallest planes in DL's fleet and typically go into smaller cities.
So a 737-800 or even a MD-88 prolly wouldn't be practical.

-Matthew

[Cheechako]

[ QUOTE ]
The 737-200/300's are the smallest planes in DL's fleet and typically go into smaller cities.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it's more accurate to say "lesser served" cities... I see Delta's 733s often in SFO, DEN, and LAX.

[Ice_Hawk]

I think they will move to the 737-700, but that's just a guess. I'm not an insider or anything.

[H46Bubba]

Delta Connection EMB-170s.

[kellwolf]

Depending on the load factors and seasonal variations for those planes, I wouldn't be surprised to either see the schedules consolidated into a 757 or (as was jokingly suggested) have yet more major routes fall to the RJ level. Not sure if Delta has the financial ability to take on the lease of a 737 NG. They might view the expiring leases as "cost cutting."

[flyover]

They should have no problem renewing the leases if they want to. These airplanes were worn out when they got them. Can't see a big market for them. They may want to keep them since they are using them on the shuttle, but who knows.

[tonyw]

Or they'll find their way over to say, Asia or Africa or South America. It is a lot of fun to see some of the aircraft that nobody's operating here in the US ending up in other places. Aerolineas Argentina is operating 737-200s, for example. And their international operations fly 727-100s!

[flyover]

Ah yes, the traditional grave yards for commercial airplanes. I guess I was thinking in terms of the US market. There has definitely been a lot of maintenance invested in these airplanes.

I'm guessing that one of the reasons that companies will lease airplanes for much less to these areas is there is little or no liability expense.

[mpenguin1]

Yep, my pilot buddies ferry 727's, 737's, & MD80's, usually to Indonesia. There have been MD-11's moving around recently, and believe it or not, L-1011's out of Victorville are coming out of the desert, after being in storage for several years.

[UPSboxbeetch]

[ QUOTE ]
Delta Connection EMB-170s.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's what I was thinking, 170s or the new 190s.

It'd be a hella cheaper alternative to buying new 737NGs.

Then again, isn't Delta still getting 738s?

[kellwolf]

[ QUOTE ]
There has definitely been a lot of maintenance invested in these airplanes.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's why, IMO, Delta will probably not renew the leases. Unless they are making money hand over fist on those routes, the potential mx expenses far outweigh the revenue generated. Now, unfortunately, they might be able to find a regional carrier to charge a flat rate or per seat fee to cover those routes. Makes the stockholders happy, makes us pilots sad.

[asl]

According to my book on Airlines and their planes, Delta have 61 737NG's on order, with 321 options, but not specific as to -700s, 800s, 900s, so I reckon they could get -700s if they want 'em.