Originally Posted by
ATNotts
But it's all about economy, and the fuel burn on a new 737MAX has got to be so much lower than on a 1970 technology 757. I'm sure they'll find new homes though, probably as freighters.
Although developed through the later 1970's as a 727 replacement (models 727-300, 7N7 & 7X7) the 757
and 767 were 1980's high tech - bloody awesome when we got them in 1983 - glass screens - common type rating - very advanced - loads of power - even more when in 1985 the E4 engine came along... ETOPS in 1988 - load it up and it flew almost anywhere - A couple of Palma's in the daytime and send it off to the Maldives in the evening.
If TOM are getting rid of these 757's sequentially they either are going back off lease, or could well be due a very expensive C check. (or both)
As for the 738 & Max BRS to Banjul and Cape Verde - Should be OK direct going south with 189 pax -
The BRS runway is the limiting factor -
Coming back north, if you have head winds you may have to tech stop occasionally - and seems many Boa Vista 737 flights all stop at SAL on the way back including Max.
The 757 and 321 doesn't have to.
The 737-800 and Max are not the most perfect replacement for the 757 at BRS but TOM have decided that's the way they are going with fleet wide commonality.
The 235 seat A321NEO/LR/ACF Leap would have been a much better buy - not quite a 757 but getting there...