Flopster and all,
UPS is not ditching the 767-300. In fact it is one of the most important aircraft in our fleet. Used both domestically and internationally. Most of our west coast inbounds/outbounds use the 757/767 because the A-300 is just too slow.
Rumor was that the “price was right” on our A-300’s. Plus the untold political advantage of buying European while expanding in Europe. Aircraft had a bumpy introduction – lots of broken airplanes (with pilots and mechanics new to the airplane).
Because of reliability problems, they are just starting to use them on multiple leg inbound/outbounds, something they have been doing on the 757/767 for years.
Look for our 727 fleet to dwindle, a few more DC-8’s to the desert, and some 747’s to disappear as we acquire more MD-11’s. (I think) 9 A-300’s to be delivered this year.