Quote:
Originally Posted by NYCAAer
I have yet to figure out what benefits DL-NW will have in terms of economics. Their route networks complement each other beautifully, with DL dominating US-Europe and expanding into Africa and the Middle East, and NW's strong presence across the Pacific. But that's about it. DL's narrow body domestic fleet is comprised of MD-88s and 737NGs, NW newest domestic fleet are its A319/A320s. DL's long haul fleet has over 100 767s and a handful of 777s. NW is operating its long haul with the largest fleet of A330s in the world, and about 16 747-400s.
Air Canada-Canadian worked because they reduced frequency on all the overlapping routes within Canada, reducing capacity to raise fares and profits, and helping to compete against Westjet and others. Because Air Canada is smaller, simplifying the fleet was easier. They dumped Canadian's older 737s in favor of A320 family jets, and retired the 747-400s of both airlines. A subfleet was created with the 767-300s, since AC's had 2 doors and 2 window exits per side, and CN's were the type with 4 doors per side, not sure if they use the same engines or not. Now the A340 and A330 fleets are being replaced by the 777s.
But it's a lot easier to replace and modernize when you have about 12 A340s and 9 A330s in AC's case rather than DL's 100 767s and NW's 30 A330s. That's a lot of metal to replace and you can't ground any of them to cut costs, otherwise you risk shrinking your route network. The combined DL-NW doesn't want to do that, since they claim having a nearly global network is their greatest strength.
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I Guess DL-NW Expect A New Customer Base Simply Due To The Combined Network. It Prolly Will Work To Some Degree, But Cust Cutting Is Important Too.
With Regards To Air Canada, I'll Correct A Few Things.
Air Canada Operated 20 Plus DC-9s & 20 Plus 737s For Several Years After The Merge Until The Newest 319s Were Phased In.
DC-9s Went First, 737s Stayed For Another Year & A Half. Additional 737s Were Used Side By Side Air Canada Ops As Zip & Tango To Compete With
Jetsgo & Westjet.
Air Canada Only Raised Fares On International Routes. They Still Had To Cope With Jetsgo & The Ever Emerging Westjet. (Some 27 Aircraft I Believe At The Time. (10-732s,17-73NG) To A Fleet Now Comprised Of Nearly 60 NG 37s. 600s,700 & 800s.
Air Canada Still Operates Tango Flights On Board Both Premium Air Canada Flights & Jet-Z Flights, But The Livery Is No More.
767s
The 2 Doors Overwing Were Both Canadia>n & Air Canada Ships.
The 767s Became Air Canada's Main Profit Making International Fleet & Were On The Hunt For Them BADLY.
They Purchased Additional 767s From A Few Other Airlines, Hence The 4 Doors Per Side Rather Than Dual Overwing Emergency Exit Window Configuration.
Post Merge, The Planes Were Jam Packed & Air Canada Was Desperate For More 767s. That Is Until 911.
In The Aftermath They Cut The 767 Fleet By Nearly Half. Mostly The Domestic 762s & Any Outstanding Temporary Leases For 763s Went Back To The Lessors.
Shortly Before Restructuring, Air Canada Puilled A Few Back Out Of The Desert Again & Began Growing The 763 Fleet Again.
The 763 Is Still Attributed To Most Of Air Canada Profits.