UNITED'S 757S COULD MAKE GREAT FREIGHTERS, BUT WILL THE CARRIER RELEASE THEM?

摘要

United Airlines had planned to to start retiring its fleet of 757-200/300s beginning in 2020, but Andrew Nocella, the company's COO recently told journalists the retirement schedule will now depend on when the 737 MAX reenters service. Last year, United announced it would use 737 MAX 10s to replace out­going 757-200s. Given the continued popularity of freighter-converted 757-200s among express carriers, the relatively young fleet is seen as suit­able for conversion post-retirement - or, at the least, a welcome source of spare engines for aircraft that are parted out. Boeing still expects the MAX to return to service before the end of 2019. Some carriers, including United, however, have removed the airframe from their schedulesuntil early 2020. United currently hopes to return the plane to scheduled service by Jan. 6. At the end of 3Q19, United's 757 fleet totaled 75 units, including 54 757-200s and twenty-one -300s, according to a release on the company's investor relations page. Although three of the 757-200s were delivered between 1989-1990 and have hit, or are approaching, age 30, a large sub­set of 29 aircraft were delivered in 1997 or later, and are between 19-22 years in age. The remainder are only slightly older.