727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5715 posts, RR: 20 Posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 7038 times:
I read in a recent thread that @AA, the 738 has now passed the MD-80 in numbers. With the former fleet growing as the latter fleet kept decreasing, it was only a matter of time. (sad face for me, I know others will disagree)
So what are the actual numbers for each at this point?
Also,
How many 738 were there before this new batch started coming in?
What was last reg delivered of original batch?
What was first reg delivered of new batch?
Are there even any MD-80s left @ ORD?
jporterfi From United States of America, joined Feb 2012, 358 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 6991 times:
I believe there were 76 738s in the fleet before the new batch.
N978AN was the last reg. of the original batch.
N979AN was the first reg. of the new batch (which first started being delivered in 2009).
These are the routes that AA flies from ORD with MD-80 series a/c: AUS, DCA, DFW (all MD-80s), DEN, LAS (all MD-80s), LAX, LGA, MCI, MCO, MSP, PBI, PHL, PHX, PSP, PVR, RDU, RSW, SJD, STL, TPA, TUS
I was surprised to see so many, considering that 738/MD-80 ratio is quickly increasing!
seabosdca From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 4277 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6785 times:
It will be at least four years before they have enough A319s and 738s (from the next order) to replace all the MD-80s. Enjoy the spotting while you can!
Most gorgeous aircraft: Tu-204-300, 757-200, A330-200, 777-200LR, 787-8
ikramerica From United States of America, joined May 2005, 21025 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6752 times:
The 738 and A319 allow AA to fly anywhere in the USA from anywhere in the USA (continental) with better efficiency than the MD80, so it's a no brainer that they are going away fast. Personally, I like the quietness of the MD80, but as a tall person who likes the window seat, I don't like the MD80 at the window, and if I ever fly first class, the 18.5" seats don't feel very first class. Traveling as a couple, the 2-3 config is fine, but I have a choice of window cramps or aisle seat where the cart rams into me.
I think the MD80s time has come...
Of all the things to worry about... the Wookie has no pants.
Darksnowynight From United States of America, joined Jan 2012, 979 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6703 times:
Interesting. As another tall person, my experience is that the 738 leaves a lot, that the Super 80 doesn't, to be desired. I know their departure is inexorable, so all I can say is it will be a good day for AA when the first Airbus arrives.
Posting without Talent is simply Tolerated Vandalism... We are the Vandals.
Roseflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8737 posts, RR: 52 Reply 7, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 6646 times:
AA is receiving 2-3 737-800s per month (and has been since about March 2009) and is up to about 192 737NGs give or take a few.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
American 767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 3320 posts, RR: 14 Reply 8, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 6574 times:
Quoting jporterfi (Reply 1): I was surprised to see so many, considering that 738/MD-80 ratio is quickly increasing!
Unfortunately.
But on the other hand, I'm glad they are getting the A319 and A321.
ORD-LGA is no longer all MD-80, and neither is DFW-LGA. Three months ago, I flew on a 738 from ORD to LGA and I was disappointed. Simply because I was expecting an MD-80. It was a 737, as scheduled, I knew that upon booking on aa.com, I was already disappointed it was a 737 just on that particular flight I was on. I told the F/A I was unpleasantly surprised to see a 737 on that route, she told me that ORD-LGA-ORD was now seeing more 737s.
Quoting 777STL (Reply 3): STL-MIA(might be all 757 now)
STL-MIA always was all 757 (2x daily). MIA has not seen the Super 80 since the late 90s. But yes, with the exception of MIA, all AA routes out of STL do see the MD-80 at least 1x daily if not more. Until recently, STL was MD-80 heaven like DFW, but of course STL is not as big as DFW is.
And fly on them before it's too late! DFW still sees a lot of them.
I said I was disappointed when I flew ORD-LGA because it was a 737 as opposed to an MD-80, but never mind, two weeks later I flew on an MD-80 from EWR to DFW and back.
The whole point of this topic is how many 737s American has versus how many MD-80s they have, but at some point if you keep counting the 737s you will have to subtract 75 from the total number of 737s. Because those are older than the rest of the fleet. By the time the last MD-80 leaves, the 737 retirement will have begun. I do agree, however, that the ratio keeps increasing because when the 737 retirement will begin, only a few MD-80s will be left.
Ben Soriano
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
727LOVER From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5715 posts, RR: 20 Reply 11, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 6200 times:
American 767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 3320 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 6149 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Reply 11): But here's an interesting-------when was TWA's last MD-80 delivered? Was it AFTER AA received its first 738?????
Yes it was, by a few months. The two events both occurred in 1999: the first 738 was delivered in March or April, and TWA received the last MD-80 built in December.
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
qqflyboy From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2198 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 6140 times:
TrijetsRMissed From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2097 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 6092 times:
The inevitable changing of the guard or handing of the baton.
Although DL has a greater McDonnell Douglas history, AA's relationship with the MD-80 line is iconic. As we marvel at some of the massive narrow-body orders in recent memory, we forget that the AA MD-80 fleet was first +250 and later +300 size fleet in airline history.
With personal ties to the MD-80, I'm fortunate that all these years later, with business and personal travel, I'm guaranteed 6-10 legs annually.
Quoting 727LOVER (Thread starter): read in a recent thread that @AA, the 738 has now passed the MD-80 in numbers. With the former fleet growing as the latter fleet kept decreasing, it was only a matter of time.
FWIW, according to planespotters both the 738 and MD-80 are equal in active numbers at 192. Regardless, I think we can consider the winter 2012/2013 year as the turning point.
TrijetsRMissed From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2097 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (5 months 2 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 6085 times:
Quoting seabosdca (Reply 4): It will be at least four years before they have enough A319s and 738s (from the next order) to replace all the MD-80s.
Quoting 727LOVER (Reply 11): I dont think that's quite true, the MD-80s should be gone by 2017
It will be a little longer than four years. Technically, the only way 2017 is possible is if AA replace less than 25 752s during that time.
I expect more than 25/130 A321s to be delivered, of the current generation batch.
777STL From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 3032 posts, RR: 3 Reply 18, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4492 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Reply 11):
I dont think that's quite true, the MD-80s should be gone by 2017. AA started getting 738 in 1999.
I'm somewhat skeptical of that too. Considering AA still has a number of active MD80s built in the mid 80s, I'm somewhat skeptical that they'll be getting rid of 738s that will be in their mid to late teens at the oldest.
Quoting TrijetsRMissed (Reply 14): FWIW, according to planespotters both the 738 and MD-80 are equal in active numbers at 192.
Looks like airfleets shows 186 MD80s and 191 738s. It's probably safe to say the fleets are roughly equal at this point.
delta88 From United States of America, joined May 2009, 38 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 4323 times:
AA also does ORD-SAT on the MD-80 San Antonio is one of the MD-80s best homes, an 8000 foot runway, kinda hot and a little high, perfect for the MD-80s, Delta and AA both fly them to SAT, However i think in the future AA will replace them with the A319 or B738 But just thought id Mention one of the longer routes!
American 767 From United States of America, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 3320 posts, RR: 14 Reply 21, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 4145 times:
Quoting jporterfi (Reply 17): I assume you're talking about highest MD-80 frequency, correct?
If he is talking about the highest MD-80 frequency then yes, he is correct. DFW-ORD runs 20x daily or so and all are MD-80s. For a while there was one flight that was a 777, it was meant for repositioning, but I don't think they still fly the 777 on that route. With the exception of that 777 flight, which used to be an MD-11 back in the 90s, all DFW-ORD-DFW flights have been MD-80s for now 20 years.
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
ckfred From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 4650 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 3768 times:
I've noticed over the past couple of years that some routes have gotten 738s, and then lost them. ORD-PHX, ORD-LAS, and ORD-TPA have been partially or completely 738 at some point, but they are now all MD-80.
Why does AA do that? Considering that all of these routes skew towards leisure and aren't short hops, one would think that AA would want a more economical aircraft.
AmericanAirFan From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 397 posts, RR: 3 Reply 23, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3091 times:
Quoting 727LOVER (Thread starter): So what are the actual numbers for each at this point?
It's almost exactly 1:1 or about 1.02:1 (737:MD80 Ratio).
airstatdfw From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 364 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (5 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 2587 times:
25 igomarch: as per AA 1dec2012 191 738 188 md80 ********************************************** configuration summary 737 16/132 27 737 16/134 54 737 16/138 1 737
26 aa77w: Why has American ordered so few A319s? Only 11, IIRC. Seems like a very small number compared to the A321 and 738 order. What is the intended market f
27 American 767: I would say 2019 at the latest. I'm sure that DFW will remain MD-80 heaven at least for another three years from now. I remember when DFW was 727 hea
28 TrijetsRMissed: IIRC, the 772ER repositioning was removed from the route in 04/2011. I was lucky to get on one of the final legs.
29 yyz717: The current order is for 12 A319's and 119 A321's (total 131). All 12 A319's will be delivered July-Oct 2013, first A321 delivery in Nov 2013. No dou
30 TrijetsRMissed: This is indicative of many 752 retirements. By the time the A321s start arriving, 53 of the 752s will be 20-24 years in age. At the conclusion of thi
31 aa77w: It just seems odd to me that they ordered such a small fleet of A319s and don't have an intended specialty market for them. I believe that AA has a si
32 American 767: Yes. Delta has a small fleet of 737-700s (I think no more than 25 of them) compared to its large fleet of 800s and 900s on order.
33 777STL: AA does have a small sub fleet of ETOPs 757s without the international J used on the Hawaii routes. I want to say there is ~15ish of them or so?
34 NASCARAirforce: Not to be a smart ass - but there is one across Le Jeune Blvd at George Baker Aviation. I saw one arriving in October 2011 on Rwy 26R and couldn't be
35 TrijetsRMissed: Could these not be replaced by ETOPS A321s or is performance an issue here? Perhaps not until 2018 when the NEOs arrive. On another note, did AA ever
36 yyz717: Correct, DL has a sub-fleet of (just) 10 73G's.
37 N737AA: There are already some parked in the desert. N737AA
38 seabosdca: The A321 doesn't quite have the legs for Hawaii with a full load. The A321neo will do that mission easily. I'd expect those 757s to be replaced by A3
39 ckfred: Isn't it conceivable that AA can readjust the number of A319s and A321s over the life of the contract? When AA announced the Airbus and Boeing narrowb
40 777STL: As long as cost is accounted for, I'm sure Airbus doesn't much care which specific variant AA orders.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 5715 posts, 
(sad face for me, I know others will disagree)
, 3320 posts, 
From Brazil, joined Mar 2005, 959 posts, 
From Australia, joined Sep 2011, 303 posts, 
From Puerto Rico, joined Apr 2010, 2042 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
