SWA 717

[thrillsandchills]

If it hasn't already been suggested, would you consider repainting a B717 in the colors of Southwest Airlines?

Thank you.

Thrills And Chills

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

It's actually come up a number of times, but, as of the last time it came up they still hadn't entered revenue service with SWA .... and .... as I recall .... only line profile artwork of how the aircraft might look was available/provided to us at that time .... SO .... if they are, now, running around with the irline, then, RW photos would probably be more helpful

Beyond that .... it, like every othr suggestion too, is "subject to its appeal to any of our painters"

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Tony Madge - HJG]

If it is a real world livery then I will do it, however I cannot find images to confirm this??

[Deleted]

Although Southwest airline inherited about 85 units of 717s through merge with Air Tran, 717s never operated under Southwest livery unless I am mistaken.

Southwest airline renowned for keeping operating costs/expenses low has no interest in extra training, extra spare parts, extra maintenance, and any extra headaches from 717s preferring to use 737s as way of keeping all those kinds of operating costs low and leaner.

Southwest sold 97 percent of 717s to Delta which was very eager to find replacement for 40 year old Northwest DC-9s and rest to Hawaiian Airline who liked 717s.

Here is discussion about what happened to 717s in SWA possession as seen below:

tonymadgehjg.proboards.com/thread/5856/delta-b717?page=2

Regards,

Aharon

[Tony Madge - HJG]

Thanks Aharon for this update

[acourt]

Aharon is correct. Almost immediately after the AirTran and Southwest pilots ratified the proposed seniority integration (which included bases, seats, and guaranteed Southwest 717 crews), the Company announced that the entire AirTran 717 fleet would be subleased out to Delta. None ever wore Southwest colors, and none ever will: all eighty-eight airframes were out of the operational fleet by the end of December 2014. The public message was that SWA wanted to maintain fleet commonality, and wouldn't be able to make money with the 717s using their business model.

Unofficial word from the financial gurus is that Delta is currently whipping SWA pretty good in certain markets (like the West Coast) using...717s!

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

AND .... which, then, seems, to finally solve/put this particular subject to bed .... once'n'for all

Thanks "ACOURT"

In other words folks .... "NO" SWA liveried B717-200's (at least not among the HJG inventory) .... "SORRY"

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[acourt]

Mark,

But, wait! What if one of the aircraft was spirited away into hiding--ala the Avro Arrow--to be painted in SWA colors as "Survivor One?" An aircraft in Jacksonville or Miami for a D-check, perhaps? Does a wildly crazy rumor/conspiracy count as "real?" I can probably produce a blurry Nessy-like picture if you'd like!

Sorry. I'm living in Colorado now. Must be the all the pot getting to me...

[thrillsandchills]

Because it's come up a number of times, are you guys going to make it a "sticky"; so it stays at the top of the forum? That way every one will know about the demise of the "SWA 717" especially if they don't know.

Thrills and Chills

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

HMMM .... no need to .... really .... since this's a "REPAINT REQUEST" rather than an "AVIATION NEWS" related posting.

If Allan ever wants to post more details, or a more in-depth feature, on the "GENERASL" forum page .... then he's most welcome to do so .... but even then we wouldn't sticky it.

Mark C
AKL/NZ

[Tony Madge - HJG]

If it had truth to it I would happily paint it