Not to many US carriers only operate US manufactured aircraft. Continental is pure Boeing now that they’ve retired their MD-80’s. They went all US back in the 1980’s when they ditched their A300’s which I believe the aquired from Eastern. Obviously the old CEO, Gordon Bethune, who had come from Boeing had some personal interest in being an all Boeing fleet. I guess if you want to get picky, Continental isn’t all Boeing as they own the leases to our 249 EMB-135/145 jets, they just don’t operate them since we’ve become a seperate company.

Southwest Airlines is pure Boeing and Delta has an all US manufactured fleet since they ditched their A310’s about 10 years ago. Delta is very heavy on the MD side though with their huge MD-80 fleet. Alaskan is also all US but also have a number of MD-80’s.

Indeed.

I think I heard AA will eventually phase out their A300’s, in which case they would be an all U.S. fleet, as well. Any truth to this?

I doubt that very much, the competition in SA at the moment is far to fierce to start another airline.

Flex 35

Is that solely between Comair and S. African, or are there other players as well?

What’s next, Virgin South Africa or Virgin Canada? When is Virgin USA supposed to begin ops?

Perhaps it’s no so much the airlines (which at the end of the day should want the most adequate product for their businesses) as some of the passengers themselves. Judging by comments seen and heard on internet boards out there, the “if it ain’t Boeing I’m not going” brigade is alive and well. People who claim they will not fly on an European-made a/c, only American ones. That has to have had an effect when it comes to consider a purchase.

Well said.

No the 727’s have been phased out when the A320 went into service.
AFAIK AF never operated any 757
The 767’s are gone

Thanks for that Hand. I was actually aware that the ’67’s were gone, and was well aware that they didn’t currently operate the ’27. I was just wondering if they had operated the 3-holer in the past, and you cleared that up.

Although it’s good to support one’s own industry there is nothing wrong with airlines, even flagship carrier ones, buying a/c from other countries. This has never been a problem in Europe, with many airlines having an all-Boeing or manily-Boeing fleet, but there used to be a rather different (and a bit moronic if you ask me) position in America regarding ownership of non-American a/c.

Well, United, Northwest, and America West both operate sizeable Airbus fleets at the moment, along with the 2 aforementioned airlines. When was this ‘moronic’ position evident?

No, the sizeable 737’s

Oh, ok. Either way, they still operate, or have operated a number of Boeings. I neglected to mention the 767’s they also operated. Did they ever operate the 727 or 757?

They acquired the Airbuses from Aeropostal?

green and red, big no no !

I like it! Look, if it’s a ‘Virgin’ airline, it’s going to have to be a rendition of their current style, and it’s going to have to contain red. Now, since it’s Nigerian based, you have to use green. And there you go! Would you have rather had a green fuselage with a red tail?