AA would not need 500 airplanes if each a/c flew 1 more leg per day by reducing gate turn times. AE RJ's can cover probably 75% of the routes that MD80's currently fly. AE operates a flight from XNA-LAX for example.
B757's can cover some of the routes that 767's presently fly.We are already operating B-757's LAX-HNL.I'm sure we could buy some more B-757's on the market from some of the airlines in chapter 11 trouble.
B757 could also be used to cover MD80 routes such as DFW-SAN
There are all kinds of options available of which many I'm not even aware of.
Then how many 737's would AA need? For the sake of argument lets say 400. That's still 400 aircraft that AA does not have the money for. And like I said before you still would need the 767 for routes that the 757 is either to small for or does not have the range and the 777 is to big for. As for buying more 757's that presents it's own problems. Since there are three US carriers in chpater 11 with 757's lets examine each. UAL, different engines which means added costs for maintaining. Before you mention ex-TWA 757's AA is in the process of returning them as the leases come due. As for US Air and ATA they have differnet exit config that along with other differences makes fora big headache
How would you replace the 100 MD80'S that are going to be HIGH-TIME HIGH CYCLES A/C in the next 5 years?[N-200 series tail numbers]
Considering NWA is still flying the DC-9 (the newest DC-9 is a year older than the oldest AA MD-80) I think you can get a bit more life out of them
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