Originally Posted by
wheels_down
Are there any major differences between the NG’s that are 04 build and those 10 years later?
From memory, the later builds had some aerodynamic clean-ups, but the difference to operating costs is probably the width of a bee's appendage. Apart from getting closer to C or D check intervals, the cost difference between new and old should me minimal. VA have a bunch of older 737s effectively coming back on their balance sheet over the next few years from their 2015 enhanced equipment note issue, so the ownership costs on those older jets are minimal. But mainline doesn't want more capacity so some of them get shunted to TTIn theory, that means that TT's overheads come down, and they can tap into the wider VA group maintenance and spares arrangements, everyone wins.
All of which ignores that A320 fleet that TT has operated from day dot, a number of which are leased out to 2023 on quite high rates due to the shortage of frames when the previous owners signed the leases. Which, by the way, aren't as easy to break as it was probably assumed.
So some of those get shunted across to VARA as its mining clients look to up-scale for major construction projects, and hey they operate A320s anyway so all good right? But VARA's business model is based on low utilisation using clapped-out and mid-life A320s, not the rates that are being paid for the TT birds. But, hey, there is work for them on mining charter, supplementing mainline and the Christmas/Cocos work is about to pick up now ScoMo has reopened the detention centre there.
All the while, the TT drivers are sick of their pay talks being stalled for so long, unsteady management that really doesn't five a flying fvck about the unit, cock-ups in catering, and being forced to make a million changes on the fly to schedules etc.
I'm an outsider, but is that a fair summary of the state of play?