Don’t get too excited — an aircraft order isn’t imminent, but Southwest’s management did make some interesting comments during its third quarter earnings call about considering the A220 for its fleet renewal.
Continue reading: Could Southwest Airlines Order The Airbus A220?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Given Boeing got into the whole 737 MAX nightmare Frankenstein monster of a plane because of pressure from WN to not retrain pilots it would be pretty rich for them to now ditch the fleet and go Airbus because they realize the planes are not the right size. There is probably some apropos German word to describe whatever that sequence of events would be.
@Ben –
Look up the ‘caspian sea monster’ it’s a giant half boat/ half plane that was pulled out of the sea off the coast of Russia. It was made during USSR times and will be the centerpiece to a new war museum in Russia.
I actually think the A220 is going to end up being the solution, since the MAX7 hasn’t entered into service yet and I could see given all the issues Boeing is having and will have with deliveries, the MAX7 being one of the things getting cut.
I truly despise the 737 in any of its flavors. Very uncomfortable. I would much rather take an airbus or even MD90. Why didn’t Boeing expand the 757 line instead?
@ben have you flown on a SWA 737MAX or basing your preference on your experience on AA?
It wouldn’t make sense for them to buy the A220-300 to only fill the -700/MAX7 role. The value in commonality is too high.
However, if their plan is to eventually procure a ~110 seat plane as well (A220-100 size), then it makes sense.
The Max is dead. About time people recognised that
Sooner Boeing itself recognises that the better for everybody.
The A220 is the prime example of what domestic flying should be like in the 2020s. It is a truly state-of-the-art plane and it's just a great experience. In the post-COVID landscape, it's probably going to become an even more valuable aircraft. Being a new and modern airframe, its already great economics should only get better as the platform continues to mature. It's not surprising SWA is considering them and I hope they follow through and purchase them as I would love to be able to more frequently fly on the CS instead of a A320 or 737.
Boeing tried to kill the A220. See what's happening to Boeing, Well deserved. Who would buy the MAX 7 over the A220. Only a carrier who gets it for free.
With the upgauging trend the industry saw pre-Covid and will see once recovery starts, I wouldn't expect WN to swap 737-700s like for like with 737-7s.