For those who are interested, here's the latest on Delta's Fleet plans.
Delta Fleet Facts
Aircraft Orders.
Firm with delivery dates and Ship Numbers
2007- 2Q 2009: 24 B737-800s, 5 B777s
Options- 2Q 2009
22 B737-800s, 3 B767-300s, 3 B767-400s, 1 B777
Conversions to ER category currently underway:
B767-300 (type code 76S)
Ship numbers 1701 & 1708 are currently being modified to 767ER (type code 76L) seating and galleys. These Ship numbers have been moved to the 76L row. All other 76S ships will be modified to remove 2YC seats, making a new configuration of 24FC/226YC. This program will be complete by March 31st, 2006. Ships 1702 to 1707 will undergo the International modifications between March and June 2006
February 23, 2006
FLEET RENEGOTIATIONS (note as of today all mainline aircraft have renegotiated leases except for 11 mainline aircraft)
Restructuring plans for over 90% of the mainline fleet and over a third of regional jets have been agreed or otherwise implemented with aircraft financing parties, subject to court approval
Delta is leveraging the court process to retire four fleet types by the end of 2006. As previously announced, those fleet types are the 732, 733, 762 and 73G
Delta has rejected leases on previously grounded aircraft, including the MD-11 and Fairchild 328JET aircraft
EXISTING PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS
Convert 48 Song 757s into two class and integrate back into the mainline fleet by end of 2006
Expand in-seat IFE to long-haul flights on the 737-800 and 767-300 fleets by 2008
Upgrade Business Elite (recondition seat and IFE system) product on the existing 767 and 777 fleets by Spring of 2007
Transition eight 767-300ER and eight 767-400ER aircraft from domestic to international configuration, all with the new Business Elite product. The 300s will be completed by June 2006 and the 400s will be completed by May 2007
Reconditioned – upgraded seats, new rugs and laminates – over 55% of the mainline fleet with a goal to complete 85% by the end of 2006. The entire fleet will be reconditioned by May 2007
2007 GOAL
By end of 2006, we'll have about 440 mainline planes in our fleet
A comprehensive fleet plan to exit Chapter 11
Be ready to announce aircraft orders that will meet our fleet replacement and growth needs
Q&A
Overall, what is happening to the fleet? Are we pursuing wide-body aircraft to support our international expansion?
We have made tremendous progress in streamlining our fleet by taking advantage of the Chapter 11 process. We'll have retired four older, high maintenance and less fuel efficient 732, 733, 762 and 73G fleet types by the end of the year. We have also been able to eliminate the lease expense associated with some aircraft that Delta had previously grounded, such as the MD-11s and Fairchild 328JETs. With the integration of Song's 757s back into the mainline, we will be able to redeploy our long-range capable wide body aircraft into more profitable international destinations.
This gives Delta a unique ability to significantly grow our international franchise -- which diversifies and improves our revenue base -- over the next several years while other airlines are waiting for the next generation international wide-bodies (787 and A350) to enter service. Delta, as the world's largest operator of the 767, will need to begin replacement of that fleet early next decade (as well as growth aircraft) and we've already begun discussions with both Boeing and Airbus to understand the relative capabilities, economics, and customer attributes of their respective offerings.
How are we addressing the wide seat gap we'll have in our fleet between the CRJ-700 and the MD-88?
We have not determined that this gap is an issue that conflicts with the network initiatives we're implementing. Our current plan is to adjust aircraft type as well as frequency of flying to support any future changes in the network. That said, we are, at the same time, exploring possible alternatives that would economically make sense for us.
How are we going to fly to new destinations like Johannesburg with our existing fleet?
The redeployment of long-range capable 767s from domestic to international is allowing Delta to grow faster internationally than at any time since the PanAm acquisition. We plan to fly these routes with our 767-300ER fleet, which has the capability to fly from Atlanta to Johannesburg with a stop.
All information is accurate as of February 21, 2006
IFE Upgrade update
June 20, 2006
Delta is upgrading its in-flight entertainment system on longer domestic flights, and the enhanced offering was the focus of a segment of Tuesday's "Today Show" broadcast on NBC. With the first refurbished aircraft starting in early August, Delta will offer live television and MP3 audio programming in the coach and first class cabin. The newest amenity is a popular feature on former Song flights that is now being offered on mainline service. Tim Mapes, managing director-Marketing, comments during the Today segment that the new IFE availability is something our customers want to see. The refurbished system will eventually appear on most long-haul flights between Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati and New York in the East and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle in the West.
Delta Fleet Facts
Aircraft Orders.
Firm with delivery dates and Ship Numbers
2007- 2Q 2009: 24 B737-800s, 5 B777s
Options- 2Q 2009
22 B737-800s, 3 B767-300s, 3 B767-400s, 1 B777
Conversions to ER category currently underway:
B767-300 (type code 76S)
Ship numbers 1701 & 1708 are currently being modified to 767ER (type code 76L) seating and galleys. These Ship numbers have been moved to the 76L row. All other 76S ships will be modified to remove 2YC seats, making a new configuration of 24FC/226YC. This program will be complete by March 31st, 2006. Ships 1702 to 1707 will undergo the International modifications between March and June 2006
February 23, 2006
FLEET RENEGOTIATIONS (note as of today all mainline aircraft have renegotiated leases except for 11 mainline aircraft)
Restructuring plans for over 90% of the mainline fleet and over a third of regional jets have been agreed or otherwise implemented with aircraft financing parties, subject to court approval
Delta is leveraging the court process to retire four fleet types by the end of 2006. As previously announced, those fleet types are the 732, 733, 762 and 73G
Delta has rejected leases on previously grounded aircraft, including the MD-11 and Fairchild 328JET aircraft
EXISTING PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS
Convert 48 Song 757s into two class and integrate back into the mainline fleet by end of 2006
Expand in-seat IFE to long-haul flights on the 737-800 and 767-300 fleets by 2008
Upgrade Business Elite (recondition seat and IFE system) product on the existing 767 and 777 fleets by Spring of 2007
Transition eight 767-300ER and eight 767-400ER aircraft from domestic to international configuration, all with the new Business Elite product. The 300s will be completed by June 2006 and the 400s will be completed by May 2007
Reconditioned – upgraded seats, new rugs and laminates – over 55% of the mainline fleet with a goal to complete 85% by the end of 2006. The entire fleet will be reconditioned by May 2007
2007 GOAL
By end of 2006, we'll have about 440 mainline planes in our fleet
A comprehensive fleet plan to exit Chapter 11
Be ready to announce aircraft orders that will meet our fleet replacement and growth needs
Q&A
Overall, what is happening to the fleet? Are we pursuing wide-body aircraft to support our international expansion?
We have made tremendous progress in streamlining our fleet by taking advantage of the Chapter 11 process. We'll have retired four older, high maintenance and less fuel efficient 732, 733, 762 and 73G fleet types by the end of the year. We have also been able to eliminate the lease expense associated with some aircraft that Delta had previously grounded, such as the MD-11s and Fairchild 328JETs. With the integration of Song's 757s back into the mainline, we will be able to redeploy our long-range capable wide body aircraft into more profitable international destinations.
This gives Delta a unique ability to significantly grow our international franchise -- which diversifies and improves our revenue base -- over the next several years while other airlines are waiting for the next generation international wide-bodies (787 and A350) to enter service. Delta, as the world's largest operator of the 767, will need to begin replacement of that fleet early next decade (as well as growth aircraft) and we've already begun discussions with both Boeing and Airbus to understand the relative capabilities, economics, and customer attributes of their respective offerings.
How are we addressing the wide seat gap we'll have in our fleet between the CRJ-700 and the MD-88?
We have not determined that this gap is an issue that conflicts with the network initiatives we're implementing. Our current plan is to adjust aircraft type as well as frequency of flying to support any future changes in the network. That said, we are, at the same time, exploring possible alternatives that would economically make sense for us.
How are we going to fly to new destinations like Johannesburg with our existing fleet?
The redeployment of long-range capable 767s from domestic to international is allowing Delta to grow faster internationally than at any time since the PanAm acquisition. We plan to fly these routes with our 767-300ER fleet, which has the capability to fly from Atlanta to Johannesburg with a stop.
All information is accurate as of February 21, 2006
IFE Upgrade update
June 20, 2006
Delta is upgrading its in-flight entertainment system on longer domestic flights, and the enhanced offering was the focus of a segment of Tuesday's "Today Show" broadcast on NBC. With the first refurbished aircraft starting in early August, Delta will offer live television and MP3 audio programming in the coach and first class cabin. The newest amenity is a popular feature on former Song flights that is now being offered on mainline service. Tim Mapes, managing director-Marketing, comments during the Today segment that the new IFE availability is something our customers want to see. The refurbished system will eventually appear on most long-haul flights between Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati and New York in the East and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle in the West.
