WHBM. Do not forget the B737-200A capabilities that could not be matched by the DC9-32. MEL-PER and MEL-DRW nonstop for starters. Year round CNS-BNE and BNE-MEL without baggage off-loads off the old Eagle Farm runway.
AN operated the B737-200A CNS-MEL-CNS, MEL-HTI-MEL as well as ASP from MEL and SYD. The DC9-32 could do none of this. With 6 hours endurance and the same engines as the B727-200 the B737-200A had stacks of passenger appeal and was partly responsible for AN enjoying approx. 56% of the 2 airline market at one stage. With 112 seats it enjoyed a competitive advantage over the DC9-32.