Originally Posted by
ClipperDelta
This will be the fifth refurbished 744 - you'll be on its first commercial flight after the refurb. The sixth should be out later next week as well.
With these two additional completed 744s, DL should be able to operate JFK-NRT and JFK-TLV on a daily basis with the refurbed 744s starting later this month ^
Cathay Pacific wants to phase out all its 747-400's earlier because of the fuel cost and move to all 777's. While Delta has been slow to do refurbs hopefully it has plans to migrate these routes to other partners and/or replace the fleets. I can't imagine how much they would save if they migrated over to 777's or 747-8i's or other modern aircraft.
Seems like a lot of 747-400s are being stored or inactive right now.
Though for those who are flying on Delta 747-400 routes for now, it is indeed more comfortable with the new seating and it seems like the number has gone up to a reasonable number of 747-400's being refurbed now or in the foreseeable future.