Originally Posted by
mnbp
Just to clarify....
The normal NRT-ATL-NRT rotation has the aircraft in ATL for approx 22 hours each day. Normally, "today's" NRT-ATL arrival (scheduled arrival 3 pm) operates "tomorrow's" ATL-NRT (scheduled departure 1:45 pm).
For the past few days, the same aircraft has been operating NRT-ATL-NRT, so today's NRT-ATL also operates today's ATL-NRT, with two or three hours ground time minimum to turn the aircraft.
That explains a lot, but I'm amazed that DL would schedule a 747 to normally be on the ground for 22 hours. Maybe in low season, if DL perceives that they have extra 747s, so that the parked one is basically a spare exATL, but not if those 747s can be used profitably somewhere in the network.
So apparently ATL-NRT is late every day because it's now waiting for the aircraft to arrive from some other route.
This sounds like an expensive mess for DL. I'm almost surprised that they haven't made some other arrangement to get most of those passengers into NRT in time for connections. For example, DL could notify people that there's an early 767 departure with a fuel stop on the west coast and try to reroute others through various other international gateways. Not good, but it beats rerouting through Europe with partner flights.