Maybe the article below posted on USDaily shows WHY the 6 747s going away...FUEL GUZZLERS think of them as the Hummer of the skies!
UNITED SLASHES STAFF, PLANES AS IT TRIES TO SAVE MONEY
United Airlines said Wednesday that it's cutting up to 1,100 more jobs, removing an additional 70 fuel-guzzling airplanes from its fleet and slashing domestic capacity as it tries to cope with spiraling fuel prices. The nation's No. 2 carrier said it plans to cut an additional 900 to 1,100 salaried, contract and management employees by the end of the year, in addition to 500 previously announced job reductions. The combined reductions mean the airline is cutting nearly 3 percent of its 55,000 workers worldwide. Officials said the "aggressive" moves are designed to the help the subsidiary of UAL Corp. weather an "unprecedented fuel environment." Crude oil futures prices peaked at a record above $135 a barrel nearly two weeks ago and airline fuel prices have been rocketing higher as well. United said it plans to ground its entire fleet of 94 Boeing B737s as well as six of the company's 747s -- its oldest and least fuel-efficient planes. It previously said it was going to mothball 30 of the jets. It is also scrapping its coach-only "Ted" service and reconfiguring those planes to include first-class seats. And the Chicago-based carrier will cut mainline domestic capacity by 17 to 18 percent in 2009, while also scaling back international capacity by 4 to 5 percent.
Source: Associated Press, June 4