Originally Posted by
DLATL777
I'm referring to what I just posted; No one seems to have an answer:
At some point in May DL is no longer operating the 777-200LR on DL 17/16, but has changed it to this strange day turn:
ATL-LAX
Dp:840am
Ar:1025am
LAX-ATL
Dp:1200 Noon
Ar:720pm
These strange turn times of the 777-200LR exist regardless of whether a domestic DL16/17 is operating. When it is operating, it is done so by a 763. I cant nail down exactly when it starts and ends, but it appears to begin in early May.
But no one knows WHY?
It looks like the ATL-LAX segment comes off a 77L that arrived in the early morning and would have sat on the ground at ATL till 7pm anyway. Instead it sits at LAX until the SYD flight. Then it sits till noon at LAX after it returns from SYD. This schedule seems more like a tag for the DXB flight.
Maybe they wanted to reduce the gate squatting or towing/ramp sitting for the 77L at ATL so they devised a schedule that would put the 77L toe to toe with the next flights it would operate/arrive from in ATL. Maybe they decided this schedule would derive a revenue premium for its flagship 77L.
Just a wild guess.