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NW 744 and A330 may be undesired by AA but they would have to remain for 2 years just to buy enough 777. But why would AA just dich good airplanes when there are crews ready and able to fly them day 1. Why is the idea of AA having 744 a bad idea. I think there are existing AA markets right now that could use 744(Miami to Buenos Aires) and NW markets that are better served by 777(SFO to Tokyo). The A330 could fly to Europe replacing 763 for the time being until 787 arrive. 744 to LHR, GRU, EZE and NRT would be great.
Replacing NWA's 747 and A330's would require thirty seven 777's. That's not something you do in two years.
True, but I'm not convinced that AA would "replace" all the airplanes. Not right away, and probably not ever. As has been posted before, AA wouldn't be buying NW to get tons of AMS flights or other open skies routes, so it likely wouldn't need all those airplanes.
AA wouldn't be buying NW to get "bigger." AA would be buying NW to get access to China and the NRT hub. AA could keep the 744s around for a while (despite its ingrained dislike for four-engined airplanes) and could even keep some of the A330s around until they could be replaced with 777s.
Consolidation is gonna mean some serious downsizing among the legacies. I would expect that NW's ASMs would drop by a substantial percentage following any acquisition.
And for the dreamers out there - if AA operated the 744s (and the 742 freighters) for a while, perhaps it would come to appreciate the 747 again - leading to an order for a few dozen 747-8s. B)
One scenario involving NW I can envision is a joint purchase of NWA. A group of 3 carriers, say AA, USAirways and FedEX buying NW, and then breaking it up. FedEx taking the cargo division, AA taking the Pacific routes and USAirways taking the rest. It would make sense for USAirways; more atlantic routes and compatible A/C. Close MEM, downsize MSP and keep DTW. Not likely to happen, but it sems plausible.