The FAA said the total number of aircraft in the US commercial airline fleet (including regional carriers) stood at an estimated 7,185 at the end of 2011, down 29 aircraft compared to the end of 2010.
According to figures released last week by the agency, US airlines operated 3,739 mainline passenger aircraft (over 90 seats) last year, 879 mainline cargo aircraft (including those operated by FedEx and UPS) and 2,567 regional aircraft jets/turboprops. Mainline US carriers' passenger jet fleet lowered by 12 aircraft in 2011, FAA said. That followed a 41 unit increase in 2010.
"The decrease [in 2011] was driven by a 61 unit decrease by the remaining network carriers as they continued to prune their fleets in the face of uncertain economic growth and rising fuel prices," FAA said. "With the decline of the fleet in 2011, the mainline carrier fleet now stands at 16.7% below the level it was in 2000."
The US commercial passenger fleet is "undergoing transformation," according to the agency. "The mainline carriers are retiring older, less fuel efficient aircraft [Boeing 737-300/400/500s and MD-80s] and replacing them with more technologically advanced [Airbus] A320 and 737-700/800/900 aircraft. The regional carriers are growing their fleet of 70-90 seat regional jet aircraft and reducing their fleet of 50-seat jet aircraft."
Article Source : ATW Daily News
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