The First A320's Are Done For....

[Mees]

Just saw this, Means the A320 is already too old.....

[Woodlouse2002]

Well, the first 777 was sent off for scrap not too long ago.

[dcunning30]

These airliners get worked hard like a rented mule.

[flyboy 28]

These airliners also have worked very hard for those years. It's more of a safety thing really.

[wji]

While SW still fliesB732s

[flyboy 28]

While SW still fliesB732s

No they don't. Those got retired in January, 2005.

edit- http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0761334/M/

[Jakemaster]

While SW still fliesB732s

No they don't. Those got retired in January, 2005.

edit- http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0761334/M/

Yes, but they still fly the 300, 400, and 500, along with a bunch of other airliners.

Ive been on both a Southwest and a Continental early 737, I cant remember exactly which models they were, and I flew on them within the last 6 months.

Its cargo that really keeps some of these planes going.  I mean FedEx still flies 727s and if I remember correctly a few airlines fly DC-10s.  

[expat]

While SW still fliesB732s

No they don't. Those got retired in January, 2005.

edit- http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0761334/M/

Yes, but they still fly the 300, 400, and 500, along with a bunch of other airliners.

Ive been on both a Southwest and a Continental early 737, I cant remember exactly which models they were, and I flew on them within the last 6 months.

Its cargo that really keeps some of these planes going.  I mean FedEx still flies 727s and if I remember correctly a few airlines fly DC-10s.  

Air Atlantique are flying DC3 and DC6's and not just for air shows and pax pleasure flights. They are used for charter freight flights. At the last airport I worked at, the DC6 would come in quite a bit. Opal have a car assembly plant in Dortmund and used Air Atlantique to ferry parts around Europe between different plants. When I asked the crews why DC3 and DC6, they said that the aircraft are so cheap to run and they made more money than it cost to buy them each year.

Matt

[Hagar]

Air Atlantique are flying DC3 and DC6's and not just for air shows and pax pleasure flights. They are used for charter freight flights. At the last airport I worked at, the DC6 would come in quite a bit. Opal have a car assembly plant in Dortmund and used Air Atlantique to ferry parts around Europe between different plants. When I asked the crews why DC3 and DC6, they said that the aircraft are so cheap to run and they made more money than it cost to buy them each year.

Air Atlantique operated a fleet of vintage types from Coventry including the Lockheed Electra & Convair 440 for many years. Most of the operational fleet including the remaining DC-6 has been or is being disposed of. Not sure about the Electras. http://www.atlanticdhg.com/FORSALE.htm

I heard a rumour that the future of the Classic Flight is uncertain. It would be a shame to see this fine collection split up. http://www.classicflight.com

[Nexus]

Something tells me the parts alone on that A320 was worth much more than the actual plane itself.
Hence there is a viable reason to scrap it. And I don't know if NWA actually owned that ship or just leased it.
If the leasser wats to scrap it, then I dont think there is much that NWA can do.

I do believe NWA owns their DC-9s thus making it very cheap for the airline to operate them.
Just apply the same scenario on a car leasing vs car ownership.

[Jakemaster]

While SW still fliesB732s

No they don't. Those got retired in January, 2005.

edit- http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0761334/M/

Yes, but they still fly the 300, 400, and 500, along with a bunch of other airliners.

Ive been on both a Southwest and a Continental early 737, I cant remember exactly which models they were, and I flew on them within the last 6 months.

Its cargo that really keeps some of these planes going.

[C]

Air Atlantique operated a fleet of vintage types from Coventry including the Lockheed Electra & Convair 440 for many years. Most of the operational fleet including the remaining DC-6 has been or is being disposed of. Not sure about the Electras. http://www.atlanticdhg.com/FORSALE.htm

I heard a rumour that the future of the Classic Flight is uncertain. It would be a shame to see this fine collection split up. http://www.classicflight.com

Not anymore they're not. Mike Collett is keeping the collection as is, although as a business it is impossible to say what movements in and out of the group there will be.

A relocation is possibly on the cards to, Deenethorpe and Kemble being mooted.


Back on topic, the first BA A320 is in the process of being harvested at Lasham in Hampshire.

[Mictheslik]

A relocation is possibly on the cards to, Deenethorpe and Kemble being mooted.

Come on kemble......then kemble air day will be even better.....with Delta Jets and Air Atlantique

.Mic

[DaveSims]

Northwest still flies a lot of old DC-9s.  Who knows, that one aircraft may have just had lots of issues and got junked, or maybe was damaged by something.  Aircraft can go on forever, as long as you have the parts and time.