Delta to add 1st class to 66 RJ's

[ePilot22]

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL - News) said on Monday it plans to invest $1 billion over the next few years to upgrade its aircraft and enhance airport lounges.
The world's largest air carrier said it would spend about $300 million a year through mid-2013 on the initiatives, which include installing full flat-bed seats for business-class travelers on 90 Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - News) trans-oceanic aircraft and adding first-class cabins to 66 jets operated by regional connection carriers.
Flat-bed seats offer extra legroom and more privacy.
"Rather than invest in new aircraft, Delta will be spending its capital to improve the quality and consistency of the on-board product and efficiency of the aircraft we already own," Delta President Ed Bastian said in a statement.
Delta, which acquired Northwest Airlines in 2008, said the moves also included completing modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest planes to add blue leather seats, updated lighting and better amenities such as more overhead bin space. The carrier also said it would install winglets on more than 170 Boeing planes to extend aircraft range and boost fuel efficiency.

Does this mean they are going to possibly add more airframes to the Regional fleet with out conflicting with current scope?? Any guesses on what their plan is?? Rather see them spending the money on making mainline bigger and better.

Sweet, no more forward lav. :crying:





eP.

 

[Erlanger]

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Delta Air Lines Inc (NYSE:DAL - News) said on Monday it plans to invest $1 billion over the next few years to upgrade its aircraft and enhance airport lounges.
The world's largest air carrier said it would spend about $300 million a year through mid-2013 on the initiatives, which include installing full flat-bed seats for business-class travelers on 90 Boeing Co (NYSE:BA - News) trans-oceanic aircraft and adding first-class cabins to 66 jets operated by regional connection carriers.
Flat-bed seats offer extra legroom and more privacy.
"Rather than invest in new aircraft, Delta will be spending its capital to improve the quality and consistency of the on-board product and efficiency of the aircraft we already own," Delta President Ed Bastian said in a statement.
Delta, which acquired Northwest Airlines in 2008, said the moves also included completing modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest planes to add blue leather seats, updated lighting and better amenities such as more overhead bin space. The carrier also said it would install winglets on more than 170 Boeing planes to extend aircraft range and boost fuel efficiency.

Does this mean they are going to possibly add more airframes to the Regional fleet with out conflicting with current scope?? Any guesses on what their plan is?? Rather see them spending the money on making mainline bigger and better.

This has been in the works for sometime. Skywest sent out an email over 2 months ago telling us that Delta wants x amount (dont remember how many) of existing CRJ700s to be re-configured with 1st class and we should expect to see them in our fleet soon. Haven't heard anything about it since.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

DAL is being very specific in stating to investors that they ARE NOT adding more capacity or airframes. There is a reason for this.

In regards to the 70 err 66 seat jet is simple. They want DCI to have a premium product but there is not ROI on returning a 70 for a 90. Simple answer is to take a few seats out and put one in a 70 seat jet.

Even when mainline grows above the high water mark of 763 jets DCI still only have about 32 more 70/76 seat jets they can get.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Here's the link from Delta directly...
http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=43&item=870
The details are more specific in this link regarding fleet upgrades.

Specifically it states:
"Adding First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700 aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers ASA, Comair and SkyWest, bringing to 219 the number of regional aircraft with First Class seating."

 

[lowlycfi]

They want DCI to have a premium product

Be careful about using "DCI" and "premium product" in the same sentence.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Be careful about using "DCI" and "premium product" in the same sentence.

Haha.

It's like buying premium coffee at the gas station, at the end of the day its still gas station coffee.

 

[Oh-ryan]

Haha.

It's like buying premium coffee at the gas station, at the end of the day its still gas station coffee.

Would that logic hold true for say, a clockradio made by Rolex?

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Would that logic hold true for say, a clockradio made by Rolex?

Depends on the wording...

Yes.

It's like buying a clock radio made by Rolex, at the end of the day its a clock radio.

No.

It's like buying a clock radio made by Rolex, at the end of the day its a Rolex.

FWIW, there's nothing wrong with gas station coffee. Just don't pretend it isn't.