Delta to Replace RJ's with mainline jets for new growth.

[aircowboy]

Part of the memo on the new international growth at Delta contained this paragraph.

Delta’s long-haul expansion for 2009 will make Delta the leader in three regions:

• Trans-Pacific: Delta will be the No. 1 U.S. airline to Asia with the planned addition of three new nonstop flights between the United States and Tokyo-Narita, Japan, including new nonstop flights from Salt Lake City3 and New York-JFK1, a second daily flight from Atlanta3, and daily service connecting customers beyond Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam1. These flights are in addition to new trans-Pacific service previously announced by Northwest Airlines, including daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing3 beginning March 1 and nonstop service connecting Detroit and Shanghai3, effective March 28.
• Africa: Delta will remain the largest carrier to Africa in 2009. We also expect to be the only U.S. carrier operating direct service to the continent where traffic is projected to grow more than 5 percent annually through 2027. Delta plans to add new flights between Atlanta and Nairobi, Kenya1 and Cape Town, South Africa1,5 (via Dakar, Senegal); between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia1,4; Abuja, Nigeria1,4; Luanda, Angola1,4; and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea1,4 (all via Cape Verde); and between New York-JFK and Lagos, Nigeria1. Delta also will introduce its first daily nonstop service to South Africa with flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg1,2.
• Europe/Middle East: Delta will build on its leading position across the Atlantic by focusing on underserved markets with high growth rates and robust traffic patterns. New flights include service between New York-JFK and Gothenberg, Sweden; Prague, Czech Republic1, Valencia, Spain1; and Zurich, Switzerland (seasonal); as well as the addition of a second daily nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv1. As part of its successful joint venture with Air France, Delta also recently announced new nonstop flights connecting Raleigh-Durham, N.C. and Pittsburgh to Air France’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle1 hub, effective June 2009.

Delta’s successful international flying relies on the unmatched connectivity of our U.S. network, with each hub playing a unique role. To that end, Delta will improve connections to the world from our domestic hubs with 14.5 percent more total capacity between Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, New York and Memphis in January 2009 compared with the year prior. Hub-to-hub changes include some new flights, as well as upgauging select regional jet flights with mainline equipment.



It is about time we start trending in this direction. This will be good for all.

 

[BUDDHA145]

GOOD!!! o so I hope it is!!!

 

[Superpilot92]

Part of the memo on the new international growth at Delta contained this paragraph.

Delta’s long-haul expansion for 2009 will make Delta the leader in three regions:

• Trans-Pacific: Delta will be the No. 1 U.S. airline to Asia with the planned addition of three new nonstop flights between the United States and Tokyo-Narita, Japan, including new nonstop flights from Salt Lake City3 and New York-JFK1, a second daily flight from Atlanta3, and daily service connecting customers beyond Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam1. These flights are in addition to new trans-Pacific service previously announced by Northwest Airlines, including daily nonstop flights between Seattle and Beijing3 beginning March 1 and nonstop service connecting Detroit and Shanghai3, effective March 28.
• Africa: Delta will remain the largest carrier to Africa in 2009. We also expect to be the only U.S. carrier operating direct service to the continent where traffic is projected to grow more than 5 percent annually through 2027. Delta plans to add new flights between Atlanta and Nairobi, Kenya1 and Cape Town, South Africa1,5 (via Dakar, Senegal); between Atlanta and Monrovia, Liberia1,4; Abuja, Nigeria1,4; Luanda, Angola1,4; and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea1,4 (all via Cape Verde); and between New York-JFK and Lagos, Nigeria1. Delta also will introduce its first daily nonstop service to South Africa with flights between Atlanta and Johannesburg1,2.
• Europe/Middle East: Delta will build on its leading position across the Atlantic by focusing on underserved markets with high growth rates and robust traffic patterns. New flights include service between New York-JFK and Gothenberg, Sweden; Prague, Czech Republic1, Valencia, Spain1; and Zurich, Switzerland (seasonal); as well as the addition of a second daily nonstop flight between New York-JFK and Tel Aviv1. As part of its successful joint venture with Air France, Delta also recently announced new nonstop flights connecting Raleigh-Durham, N.C. and Pittsburgh to Air France’s Paris-Charles de Gaulle1 hub, effective June 2009.

Delta’s successful international flying relies on the unmatched connectivity of our U.S. network, with each hub playing a unique role. To that end, Delta will improve connections to the world from our domestic hubs with 14.5 percent more total capacity between Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, New York and Memphis in January 2009 compared with the year prior. Hub-to-hub changes include some new flights, as well as upgauging select regional jet flights with mainline equipment.



It is about time we start trending in this direction. This will be good for all.

Here come the DC-9s!! More mainline flying is always good!

 

[flap operator]

Beautiful... now they can take the RJs and put them on new routes, to expand the feed that goes into the hubs. When those markets are mature, upgage to mainline. Just like they're supposed to.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Am I the only one that looks at this and thinks that there are going to be some shifts from domestic 76 to ER flying in the next AE?

 

[Monster Buck]

It will happen for CVG. Thank god!

 

[Raoul Duke]

I think what that really means is that current RJ flights that as a result of the merger are now Hub to Hub routes will be mainline. i.e. CVG to DTW

 

[BUDDHA145]

well like I said this is Freaking great news but the why taking away all the 900 that Comair was getting and giving it to Mesaba!!! maybe their talking about 50 seaters!!!

 

[Monster Buck]

i don't think anyone is taking 50's.

 

[Papa Woody]

All these new flights, new routes, and bigger planes.

Plus, think about how easy it'll be for the crews when there are no passengers!

Seriously, look at the global economy. Who is going to be flying these routes??

Africa? Comon!

 

[Superpilot92]

I think what that really means is that current RJ flights that as a result of the merger are now Hub to Hub routes will be mainline. i.e. CVG to DTW

Balancing CVG operations to increase profitability

We’re planning some additional restructuring to our Cincinnati hub to complement its schedules with operations at our other hubs and to improve the station’s overall profitability.
We’ll reduce the current seven-bank structure to five, starting in January, and eliminate some unprofitable late-evening flights.
There will be some reduction of frequencies, primarily in Delta Connection markets with low local passenger demand. Mainline flying will remain essentially the same, and no changes are planned for CVG’s international schedules.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Its about friggin time. Consign those 35 and 50 seat RJs to the desert where they belong.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

As I have stated in the past. Delta is looking to cut 100 more 50 seat jets off the DCI portfolio in the next year. That is where you will see the majority of the pull down.

These new routes are great for DAL. Yes, the global economy sucks, but we will be pulling these airframes off routes that are hardest hit by this. It is a very wise move.

Yes, we will be doing day turns from SAL in to Africa. There is no way to guarantee the safety of the crews on the overnights in country, so we will be staying in SAL. Look for some long trips.

Yes, we need an up manning of the ER body count as this flying will eat up a lot of that. Also note that this was shifted flying, not flying that is already being done. I am not sure if there will be a formal announcement that the 330's will be doing SA and the ER's will be doing the SEA- Asia flying. Look in travel net and see if the a/c designators has changed on some of that flying. .

 

[Texx]

I think what that really means is that current RJ flights that as a result of the merger are now Hub to Hub routes will be mainline. i.e. CVG to DTW

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

 

[MJ42]

DING DING DING! We have a winner!

DING, DING, DING...we have a dummy! Read post #11 by superpilot. His post is a direct quote from a memo we got from DAL management, which contradicts your (and Raoul's) posts.

 

[Texx]

DING, DING, DING...we have a dummy! Read post #11 by superpilot. His post is a direct quote from a memo we got from DAL management, which contradicts your (and Raoul's) posts.

DING DING DING! Can you semantics? hahaha

 

[MJ42]

DING DING DING! Can you semantics? hahaha

My post obviously rings true! Thanks for the proof.

 

[cal73cap]

All these new flights, new routes, and bigger planes.

Plus, think about how easy it'll be for the crews when there are no passengers!

Seriously, look at the global economy. Who is going to be flying these routes??

Africa? Comon!

Absolutely correct, why do you think no one else is flying in these markets. There is no traffic to support this type of flying and the economy overseas is collapsing. The oil market in Africa and political unrest makes these destinations uneeded.

 

[NuGuy]

FWIW, Bastian said during the pilot meeting in MSP that they days of "fee for departure" are over. Going forward, the contracts will be for a certain amount per passenger, and it would be up to the carrier to make money. Fuel collars for the regional partners are completely out of the question. It murdered the bottom line during the run up, and they won't make that mistake again.

The concept of "franchise fees" (where a lift provider has to pay to carry the code) was not out of the question.

Nu

 

[ACL65PILOT]

And right now all of these DCI contracts are up for mid-contract modifications.

 

[Noserider76]

Absolutely correct, why do you think no one else is flying in these markets. There is no traffic to support this type of flying and the economy overseas is collapsing. The oil market in Africa and political unrest makes these destinations uneeded.

There's traffic there. It's just that up until recently it's had to go through, Paris, London, or Frankfurt to get there.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Quite true, and I am sure that this is being coordinated with Air France.

 

[Jon Rivoli]

Once the SLI is done there will undoubtedly be another memo which will begin with, " Do to the state of the economy and the global recession...." Bye bye to a whole bunch of domestic narrow body aircraft, pullback of international growth and furloughs. And you guys will act surprised.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

You can only hope that happens. I saw that after 9-11. It was good for my short term career goals, but long term it huts.

Not that it will not happen, but our management appears to see the flaw in the way the DCI world took over DAL back then, and to date, do not want to repeat it.

 

[Monster Buck]

Just because you didn't get on at SWA doesn't mean you have to go pizz in everyone else's cheerios.

 

[123]

Absolutely correct, why do you think no one else is flying in these markets. There is no traffic to support this type of flying and the economy overseas is collapsing. The oil market in Africa and political unrest makes these destinations uneeded.

Africa is the largest emerging market in the world. They are working through their political instability problems and as they gain in infastructure, there will be a lot of money transfered to that part of the world. There will be a lot of people moving in and out and I am happy to see Delta as a first mover in this market.

Previously, anyone traveling to/from Africa had to go through Europe. There is a fair amount of traffic now and it should only increase.

 

[Superpilot92]

You can only hope that happens. I saw that after 9-11. It was good for my short term career goals, but long term it huts.

Not that it will not happen, but our management appears to see the flaw in the way the DCI world took over DAL back then, and to date, do not want to repeat it.

Bingo, the mgmt teams are tired of guaranteeing profits to feeders. Especially the ones that dont do a good job. There is about to be a big time pull down of the smaller regional jets. With fuel down we can do that flying in the paid for DC9s and keep the money in house. We'll see

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I agree, but those 50 seat jets are now a lot less expensive to operate. That said the pull down will happen, it may just be drawn out a little longer than planned.

I can tell you this DAL wants to get in to the domestic as well as the international under wing cargo business big time. We cannot do that on RJ's. They have stated this. It is not an empirical guess. They need bins that have room to spare. It goes hand in hand with charging for bags. It gives them added revenue if one is carried, but really forces the average Joe to carry less, and thus have more room for cargo.
We are doing a bang up business on this end and it Will only increase.

We all know that recessions are temporary, oil will rise again, etc. What DAL is doing is position themselves in markets base on long term analysis. Yes, there is a risk, but they know that. The advantages are that once the economy thaws out, we are in position. What this merger does is gives us a few billion dollars a year that we did not have to play the world market a little bit. If you look at how and what Delta has and is doing, you should be very impressed.

 

[123]

It is great to actually be working for an airline that wants to actually be a WORLD CLASS airline.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

That it is. Lets just hope that we choose the right time to do so. We are making a few gambles on what we see for the economic future.