easyJet airbus vs boeing?

[wedger]

Hi guys,
Does anyone know what easyJet are planning to do with their Boeing fleet? Will they all be replaced by A319s and when will this happen? I'm particularly interested in finding out what the plan is for the BFS base.

[chec tunset]

The overall gameplan is to get rid of the Boeing fleet but it won't be happening anytime soon. there are no plans to convert the BFS base to Airbus at present. Official timeline puts this 3 years away. That could change but seems unlikely given the fact that on 3 previous occasions the plan was to convert the base and each time the plug was pulled.
The LTN base will begin conversion next August. That will probably leave BFS as the last of the Boeing bases..not the smartest of moves really as the direct competition is moving in brand new A320's and has plans for more airframes in BFS that EZY

[Bad Robot]

And who would that be then?
As AL are only planning 3 A320's.
I believe Easy has 5 x 73's?

BR.

[aidoair]

It is planned to have phased out the last 737-700 from easyjet fleet by 2010, as already said Belfast and Luton will be the last bases to operate the aircraft.

[wedger]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I presume that Newcastle is going to be the next base to change then, followed by Luton, then finally Belfast? Does anyone have an idea as to the approximate dates that these changeovers will happen?

[Cummulo Granite]

Had heard the reason Luton will take precedence over the Belfast base for the conversion is that the company is desperate for another uk maintenace base for the bus, hangar 89 is only being half used and STN is over crowded for sr technics.
but that is just what i heard.

[Bumby]

Possible that spare 737's will be based in BFS and operate "W" routes via London bases.

[Cummulo Granite]

yup i guess that is possible, like you did through stansted to almeria. had also heard that edi and gla would nightstop in luton to operate some of the flights during the transition and maybe after, deep joy!!

[Comanche]

737 leases sold?

BALPA rep mentioned the other day that the company managed to sell their 737-700 leases to other expanding airlines (probably in Asia), meaning EZY will only have Airbusses by the end of next year. Although this is not confirmed, my guess is that this would be a fairly realistic scenario, with obvious benefits if there is only one aircraft type in the fleet.

[orangetree]

The airbus delivery schedule alone would make this very unlikely. Unless they can bring forward delivery dates they probably wouldn't be able to cover UK conversion never mind expand. Hold the thought though..it'll improve morale amongst those stuck on the tractor fleet

[Sky Wave]

Not met any EZY tractor drivers who are particularly bothered about going Airbus. In fact, there's some that are very anti it. I think a lot of people are just making the most of what time they have left on the tractor. What we generally hear is that the airbus is more comfortable and nicer to operate, but the Boeing is a nicer aircraft when it comes to poling it around the sky manually. So, if true, we're just making the most of the hand flying whilst we're still trusted with trim and manual thrust. I must say, I am looking forward eating my meal off of a table and having an electrically adjustable seat

[Wingswinger]

Contrary to popular belief, manual thrust is possible on the 'bus and its use isn't banned.

[aidoair]

Yes that is the plan and as this thread is about this then that may be where you heard it from?

[Sky Wave]

Wingswinger

Contrary to popular belief, manual thrust is possible on the 'bus and its use isn't banned.

Even for take off? I thought as soon as you put the levers into the Flex/MCT or TOGA gates that auto-thrust automatically switches on. (Can you just press the MCP button and switch it straight off?)

I did know that you can line up your donuts and kick it out for approaches or better still disengage it when the thrust is idle. I only used the manual thrust comment for effect

SW

[sarah737]

And would those A320's be ex Wizzair or ex Vueling?

[Speevy]

Auto Thrust will be armed on take off and activated at thrust reduction when the TLs are brought back to the CL detent...

Speevy