Originally Posted by
Vuelos
Packed doesn't mean profitable. Consider an F seat is ~ $2,500 on ATL-HNL. International M fares begin there... as for the Y fares, IME the fares to HNL are lower than many Asian destinations DL uses the 747 to. Also, the 747 took 3 AC to do ATL-HNL-ATL and there are no current other destinations that DL needs 747 capacity ex-ATL to.
I never said that packed meant profitable.
Not sure why you said it took 3 AC. 10 hours one way, 8 hours other way, it should have been (I'd think) just the same 747 going back and forth.
And, while DL doesn't need 747 out of ATL, it does need 747 out of HNL. There are 3 x daily HNL-NRT, always one and often two on 747 (varies from time to time, third is either A330 or the awful 763) and also HNL-KIX sometimes is 747 (while at others A330). So, in case of any delays or issues, then always the earlier arrived and later departing (shorter flight) 747 from NRT or KIX can be subbed for ATL or vice versa (depending on the schedules du jour).
So, ATL may not be big enough to need such bigger aircraft, but HNL is and has a few daily DL 747s and A330s, which makes any aircraft subbing easily.
Also DL often seems to park a 747 or A330 here (past the time for any flight departure) and seems to have spare AC here also sometimes.