757-300 Retirement?

[UA787DEN]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone knew what airlines (if any) have plans to or are retiring their 757-300s? With the A321 and the B737-900ER, the 752s are dropping like flies, but there is even less of a real replacement for the 753s. Also, if any are being retired from one airline, who will buy them?

[BALHR]

The 757 will continue for some time yet, the 3 biggest operators (AA, DL, UA) have only just started ordering their replacements, which they will only start receiving from next year (the job will not be done until the end of this decade at the earliest)

As for the 757-300s, even the oldest examples 13 years old, so they still have a lot of life left and I doubt if they will be replaced before the early 2020s

I would guess the closest replacement would be the 787-8, unlike the 757-300 however, it would have a much bigger range

[UA787DEN]

I know about the 752s. Thanks for the 753 info. I guess there just aren't enough 753s to justify manufacturer interest in replacements. With no real replacement, they could stay in service for a while. NW DC-9s all over again

[BALHR]

I guess there just aren't enough 753s to justify manufacturer interest in replacements. With no real replacement, they could stay in service for a while. NW DC-9s all over again

Boeing was going to make the 787-3 (which is the same size as the 787-8, but with a shorter range), but there where not many takers (most preferred the 787-8) and due to production issues with the programme overall

I think DL (as least) will keep the planes until it becomes too expensive to maintain the planes (along with the 767s), hence why they have not made many 787 orders and delayed those until 2020

[oceancrosser]

I was wondering if anyone knew what airlines (if any) have plans to or are retiring their 757-300s? With the A321 and the B737-900ER, the 752s are dropping like flies, but there is even less of a real replacement for the 753s. Also, if any are being retired from one airline, who will buy them?

I think it is an exaggeration to say that the 752 fleet is dropping like flies. UA, AA and DL still have over 400 with only about 15 in storage. Fedex is still adding them and the worldwide active fleet is close to 900 out of 1050 built. There will be a few more years before addition of B739s and A320s makes a serious dent in this fleet.
As for the 753s I know of a couple of airlines interested in adding such a/c.

[UA787DEN]

I think it is an exaggeration to say that the 752 fleet is dropping like flies.

Very good point. I meant that as far as replacement plans go, they all be phased out by the 737-900ER and A321(especially the NEO), with many to be retired fairly quickly. Will these 752s most likely be sold or scrapped? (We are looking at in the ballpark of 5 years from now).

As for the 753s I know of a couple of airlines interested in adding such a/c.

And that is my point. They are quite unique, but less than 100 of them were ever made, and the US Legacy Carriers don't seem to be in a hurry to retire them. I have heard rumors (some old threads here, some on a.net) that the entire Thomas Cook Group, including Condor, would be retiring their 753s. Does anyone know when the replacement 320 family aircraft will be delivered?

A321 for the 757-300 just doesn't work. I thought the 787-3 was aimed more as a shorthaul 763 replacement (in Japan) than a 753 replacement though I guess it could've worked. Obviously UA/DL didn't think so.

[BALHR]

As for the 753s I know of a couple of airlines interested in adding such a/c.

Are you at liberty in stating which airlines? (do they already have 753s?)

[midweeksaint]

Actually UA787DEN there were 55 757-300s built and all are in service with DAL (16), UAL (21), TCX / Condor (15), Arkia (2) and Icelandair (1). I think you'll find that TCX did a bunch of sale and leasebacks on their aircraft earlier this year with Guggenheim which had quite long terms on them (I think 7 years from memory) so doubt they are coming to the market any time soon.

[UA787DEN]

TCX did a bunch of sale and leasebacks on their aircraft earlier this year with Guggenheim which had quite long terms on them

Thank you! Perhaps the Boeing Y1 when it is finally developed will be sized more like a 757. After all, look at the sales performance (or lack of it) of the 737 MAX7. The size of short-haul aircraft is consistently going up, and the Y1 would give Boeing the perfect opportunity to truly replace the 757.