In some abstract sense I think that the A330 will replace the 146. The reasoning for this apparantly foolish statement follows. As more A330s come (and the teething problems get sorted out - the A330s are hardly putting in the big strides at the moment!), some current 767 sectors will be replaced by A330 e.g. mel-syd, mel-per etc. This frees up some 767s, four of which will be converted to all Y class - let's call them 76Ys. These get used on leisure routes, replacing
some existing 717 services on the higher capacity routes, Syd-Ool,Syd-Cns,Mel-Ool,Mel-Hba,Syd-Hti etc. This frees up some 717s, which can be used to replace the 146s. Economy 737s can replace some further 717 services to allow more 717s to go onto the 146 routes. Of the East Coast 146 routes, only Bne-Ppp,Isa and Cbr remain. Ppp and Isa can goto 717, with Cbr operated by 734s due to J requirement. Of the west coast, Kta,Kgi and Bme are mostly 737 anyway, leaving just Phe,Pbo,Zne,Asp,Ayq and Gov. 717s will gradually replace the 146s on these routes.
Comments?
