It is no news to us that AA has announced their ageing 767s by the year 2020. being less than two years from this new era it would be very interesting to know the plans they have in mind for the affected market, specially out of MIA where several Latin American markets are served with this type.

The new AA has a gap between the A321N and the B788, only the first being based in MIA at the time. While both would be potential replacements for the 767, they have considerable differences in cargo capability.

These following markets currently served by the 767 have significant cargo importance for AA:

Belo Horizonte
Guayaquil
Lima
Montevideo

Maybe an insider can give us their feedback on the strategy planned for the MIA base with regards to this long anticipated replacement.

Cheers !

It seems like the 209 seat 767s can be replaced by 788s or 332s, whichever is available. Of course this would increase both passenger and cargo capacity, however most North American airlines have considerably upgauged their widebody fleet come the 787.

For some reason, I was under the impression that some of the next batch of 788s were going to be based at MIA to replace the 763s. Or, I might have mixed that up with the replacements of the 332/333s at PHL and CLT. I know AA palletized our luggage on a 788 between ORD and DFW, and i can't pretend to know if the 763 has that capability, but if cargo is a major impact for those destinations you listed, then I'm going to make an educated (read: wild) guess that the 788 might fit that mission.

The perfect airplane for AA on the longer Latin Routes not needing 777 capacity would be the Boeing NMA. GRU, GIG, EZE and SCL still need the 777 cargo capacity passenger lift plus the lie flat Business Class seats.

I would expect LIM to get the 787 due to cargo and LA feed. GYE could get the 787 for the same reason, but I'm not convinced. IMHO MVD and CNF will get the 321neo once they arrive in numbers

LA704 wrote:

IMHO MVD and CNF will get the 321neo once they arrive in numbers

Has AA ordered LRs or XLRs? If they haven't there's a problem - base 321Neos won't be flying MIA-CNF/MVD non-stop.

Stop thinking AA will send the A321 to LA. This aircraft will simply not meet demand and cargo, period.
We'll probably see 777, 787 or A330 family variations swapping for those destinations.

AA300B wrote:

These following markets currently served by the 767 have significant cargo importance for AA:

Belo Horizonte
Guayaquil
Lima
Montevideo

AA no longer flies to CNF. That flight was cut last summer.

As for the others, the announced plan is that 787s will do most of the work. That being said, I predict there's a strong chance that some of the 332s migrate down from PHL to fill in some gaps as well, depending on the market.

AA has one 737 and one 767 to GYE a day from MIA. That is a candidate for upgauging to a 787-9 or 777 and dropping the frequency of the 737 flight, but they would lose the benefit of having both a morning and evening departure from GYE. Alternatively they could fly three 737s per day.

ojjunior wrote:

Stop thinking AA will send the A321 to LA. This aircraft will simply not meet demand and cargo, period.
We'll probably see 777, 787 or A330 family variations swapping for those destinations.

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

ojjunior wrote:

Stop thinking AA will send the A321 to LA. This aircraft will simply not meet demand and cargo, period.
We'll probably see 777, 787 or A330 family variations swapping for those destinations.

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Briefly, AA actually operated the A321 on the morning departure out of GYE as before converting it back to a 757 and then to 737. The A321 was rumoured to have quite a few issues regarding weight and balance out of GYE due to cargo, this being one of the reasons for the equipment change, so maybe this would probably not be a change from the 767.

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA has one 737 and one 767 to GYE a day from MIA. That is a candidate for up-gauging to a 787-9 or 777 and dropping the frequency of the 737 flight, but they would lose the benefit of having both a morning and evening departure from GYE. Alternatively they could fly three 737s per day.

Having 1 per day 789 or 777 would be an interesting alternative. They are switching the morning departure from GYE to a B737-8 MAX starting summer 2019. Having 3x B737 per day would also be interesting however I am not sure of the cargo capacity of the B737, keeping in mind passenger loads are strong as well.

AA300B wrote:

Having 1 per day 789 or 777 would be an interesting alternative. They are switching the morning departure from GYE to a B737-8 MAX starting summer 2019. Having 3x B737 per day would also be interesting however I am not sure of the cargo capacity of the B737, keeping in mind passenger loads are strong as well.

It depends on the nature of the freight. If it can be bulk loaded, then 3x MAX8 would be a reasonable solution as there won't be much in the way of weight restrictions. If containerized freight in GYE is a big advantage, then 787 or 332 obviously makes more sense.

AA300B wrote:

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

ojjunior wrote:

Stop thinking AA will send the A321 to LA. This aircraft will simply not meet demand and cargo, period.
We'll probably see 777, 787 or A330 family variations swapping for those destinations.

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Briefly, AA actually operated the A321 on the morning departure out of GYE as before converting it back to a 757 and then to 737. The A321 was rumoured to have quite a few issues regarding weight and balance out of GYE due to cargo, this being one of the reasons for the equipment change, so maybe this would probably not be a change from the 767.

I’m surprised the A321 has issues regarding weight and balance. It is only a 2000 mile flight and both airports are at sea level. Do you have any insight regarding what the issues were?

I’m surprised, that if the 788 is AA’s 767 replacement, that more aren’t already present in MIA. Probably just consolidating them there now and putting 788s at other places that used to see the 767 more often (ORD and DFW). Once they’re out it’ll probably see 787s or other narrowbodies.

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA300B wrote:

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Briefly, AA actually operated the A321 on the morning departure out of GYE as before converting it back to a 757 and then to 737. The A321 was rumoured to have quite a few issues regarding weight and balance out of GYE due to cargo, this being one of the reasons for the equipment change, so maybe this would probably not be a change from the 767.

I’m surprised the A321 has issues regarding weight and balance. It is only a 2000 mile flight and both airports are at sea level. Do you have any insight regarding what the issues were?

I was talking with AA staff at GYE airport a few months after the type was introduced on the route and they mentioned at times passenger capacity was restricted due to weight and balance + cargo. Unfortunately I do not have more relevant details. This flight was switched to a B737 shortly after.

It would be interesting to know if preparations are being made at MIA (Maintenace, Crews) to receive the 787-8 by the end of next year. This does seem like the better alternative considering they are not premium-heavy (20 J seat/28J seat versions) suitable for the markets currently operated by 767.

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA300B wrote:

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Briefly, AA actually operated the A321 on the morning departure out of GYE as before converting it back to a 757 and then to 737. The A321 was rumoured to have quite a few issues regarding weight and balance out of GYE due to cargo, this being one of the reasons for the equipment change, so maybe this would probably not be a change from the 767.

I’m surprised the A321 has issues regarding weight and balance. It is only a 2000 mile flight and both airports are at sea level. Do you have any insight regarding what the issues were?

I was talking with AA staff at GYE airport a few months after the type was introduced on the route and they mentioned at times passenger capacity was restricted due to weight and balance + cargo. Unfortunately I do not have more relevant details. This flight was switched to a B737 shortly after.

It would be interesting to know if preparations are being made at MIA (Maintenace, Crews) to receive the 787-8 by the end of next year. This does seem like the better alternative considering they are not premium-heavy (20 J seat/28J seat versions) suitable for the markets currently operated by 767.

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA300B wrote:

Weatherwatcher1 wrote:

AA is already flying 737s to Ecuador, A319s to Colombia and 757s to Peru in addition to 767s. They have quite a variety of planes flying, but no A321s as far as I know.

Briefly, AA actually operated the A321 on the morning departure out of GYE as before converting it back to a 757 and then to 737. The A321 was rumoured to have quite a few issues regarding weight and balance out of GYE due to cargo, this being one of the reasons for the equipment change, so maybe this would probably not be a change from the 767.

I’m surprised the A321 has issues regarding weight and balance. It is only a 2000 mile flight and both airports are at sea level. Do you have any insight regarding what the issues were?

I was talking with AA staff at GYE airport a few months after the type was introduced on the route and they mentioned at times passenger capacity was restricted due to weight and balance + cargo. Unfortunately I do not have more relevant details. This flight was switched to a B737 shortly after.

It would be interesting to know if preparations are being made at MIA (Maintenace, Crews) to receive the 787-8 by the end of next year. This does seem like the better alternative considering they are not premium-heavy (20 J seat/28J seat versions) suitable for the markets currently operated by 767.