C2C2
Please stop shouting, my head hurts!!!
Everybody is suffering from tech problems, TOM, MYT, GSM, XLA, MON, everybody. Being down south, I assume at one of our big bases? means you probably see it more than we do. If we go tech big time up here, it's normally left to a MAN based machine and crew to sort it out. This year however has been an improvement on last year without doubt, in terms of technical reliability. It's the lack of crews that are causing the big problems up here. Going tech and having no replacement crew immediately available can't help. That's why I'm encouraging people to join us. That way it can only get slightly better.
As for our old fleet of 757s. Well what are the options to replace them with? Certainly not an A321. It can't carry 235 pax, has high lease costs and performance issues. The Dreamliner? No. It is not a 757 replacement. It was built to replace the 767/A330. There are rumours of a baby 787 being produced, but the past has shown that shrinking a design to meet demand generally produces an aircraft that is nowhere near as efficient as the original. What about the 737-900ER? You still can't get 235 seats in it, and it lacks the performance and power of the 757. The sad fact is that the 757 is old, but still does not have an equal in the current market for the mass tourism that it caters for. Until 737ER orders dry up, I can't see that changing. This of course is just my opinion, of which I have many! So, for now, I'm sure the 757 will be 'bucket and spade' flying for a long time to come.
As for the A320s, well I'm sure there are cost benefits for becoming a single type short-haul fleet? I don't envy the guys on the fleet who hear all sorts of rumours and are left hanging on to see where the fleet's future lies. Come to Glasgow though and I'll show you some A320s that are older than some of our 757s!
Back to the bar I think.
ACA