AIR 2000 to buy Boeing 7E7 Dreamliner

[johnwalton]

What routes are FCA planning to use the 7e7-8 on? Its range is in the region of 15,000km where the 757 is about 7,000km. Are they planning them as a replacement for the 767? If so why have they ordered 6?

[Torquelink]

First Choice orders 7E7

According to today's Air Letter, First Choice have ordered six and Blue Panorama have ordered four. Deliveries to begin in 2009.

[Flip Flop Flyer]

Also in this week's FI

Is a story about how Airbus might try to capitalize on the new generation engines being developed for the 7E7, adapt them to a bleed-system, lighten up the A332 and hey presto you'd have a low-risk 7E7 competitor. If, if, if ..... Might very well be wishful thinking on behalf of Airbus.

However, besides a lower empty weight and nice new efficient donks, what else does the 7E7 offer to beat an A332 lite with the same efficient donks?

[XL ONE]

Is there any news on the other charter airlines - Britannia/My Travel etc., will they follow FCA towards new long-haul a/c?

Also wandering do people think the A321 will replace most 757's with the UK charters over the next few years? any other poss. A/C?

[dada]

as i always say, the airline for decent people.

[TCX G-FCLH]

People have been saying that Britannia will order 4 7E7 a/c, but nothing yet.
The A321 will never be able to replace the 757 the range is not long enough. The 757 will be around a while yet, and the 7E7's are due commencing 2009 so they will be a replacement, and also the 738 and 739 could even replace the 757, but never the A321, an A320 has more range that it.

Mark

[REvans]

Dont forget Boeing are shutting down the 757 line so either the 739 or 7E7 will be replacing them in a few years time.

[aeulad]

The A321 IS an appropriate 757 replacement for First Choice, there are NO routes with the exception of Banjul that the A321 would struggle on.

With the growing presence of low cost airlines subsiding demand in the package holiday sector, a step down in capacity from the 235 seat 752 to the 220 seat 321 may be just what FCA needs.

Regards

Mike

[Pontious]

aeulad

And what would FCA use to operate their very lucrative TCS Around The World VIP Charters? You cant get from Easter Island to Western Samoa or The UK to USA with an A321.

And if a 763 or 7e7 goes very sick in the Caribbean you can easily dispatch a couple of 75's albeit via Bangor to rescue the pax. The 757 is a remarkably versatile aeroplane and personally I think the only real replacement for a 757 is another 757.
Good luck FCA!

[pilot_will]

And that's assuming First Choice will be around by the time they eventually get the 7E7 flying...

In my opinion I defiantly feel that FCA will be around then. They seem a good strong airline in the charter airline industry. I wish them good luck with their 7E7's

Being an Airbus man I'll try not to take a bias opinion to this 757 v A321 debate however I know the 757 has a good performance and the A321 has it's goods against the 757.

Pilot_will
PPL Student.

[WHBM]

And what would FCA use to operate their very lucrative TCS Around The World VIP Charters? You cant get from Easter Island to Western Samoa or The UK to USA with an A321.

And if a 763 or 7e7 goes very sick in the Caribbean you can easily dispatch a couple of 75's albeit via Bangor to rescue the pax. The 757 is a remarkably versatile aeroplane and personally I think the only real replacement for a 757 is another 757.
Good luck FCA!

Well I doubt the round-the-world charters are that lucrative. They take place at low season times of the year when the charterer has the pick of almost all the IT operators, so competition is keen. And just think of the potential costs if you go AOG while island hopping in the Pacific. I presume they go with an engineer and a lot of spares in the hold.

The example of rescuing a widebody seems implausible too, for when in the season would FCA have not one but two 757s available, with crews, for what would be a 2 day mission ? Most of the IT fleet is fully programmed throughout the season. Were such flights ever done ? It would be one for Air Atlanta or their ilk to help with, surely !

I agree the takeoff performance of the 757 is something that will be missed. But probably the fuel bills will be missed too. Oh, and Good Luck FCA from me too !

[Mark McG]

757/767 are cross qualified, so the 76 crew at the other end can op one of the 75's home.

It has happened, especially this year with all the disruption caused by the hurricanes that 75's have went acroos the pond while the 76's get the shedule back on track.

[Pontious]

WHBM

If FCA weren't making any money on the TCS ATW trips then they wouldn't do them.

One of the main reasons FCA (or AMM as it was then) plummed for the 757/767 combination was the flexibility,range and performance of the products for the price of one type rating. And it is a level of flexibility not offered by the A321/A330 coupling as confirmed by Mark McG.

If you want to see for yourself, go to BHX,GLA or EDI in the summer and then the winter and watch CO place a 767 on the routes in the summer when they need more capacity and substitute them for a 757 in the winter as demand for capacity reduces. This level of flexibility enables CO,AA,and even BA to continue to serve 'thin' routes AND make a profit. It's a combination that has probably helped save CO from oblivion.

[aeulad]

The only one out of EDI, GLA and BHX that recieves a CO 767 ANYTIME of the year is GLA in the summer.

Regards

Mike