Originally Posted by
readywhenyouare
JFK-DUB utilizes both the 752 and 763ER deepening on the season.
To me the answer is simple. Delta wants capacity discipline. The 787 provides the seating of a 763 and range to take those passengers most anywhere that DL serves. It seems like the obvious choice. A few 77W that can be ordered on the cheap make sense for high density hub-hub flights like ATL/JFK-NRT. Otherwise use the smaller 787's and you can increase the ticket price due to limited seating. I'm baffled why DL ordered more A333's. It's a HUGE airplane. DL has been chanting they are all about capacity discipline. It doesn't make sense. The fewer seats on aircraft the higher the price you can command. The 787 has the seating capacity of a 767 but can take those passengers much further. It just makes sense for the 787 to make up the bulk of a long-haul fleet.
Not sure how good you're in airline economics but they measure their costs by CASM. DL does not want "capacity discipline" but CASM discipline. If the A330 has an similiar CASM as a 787 ( and is has as it's cheaper when buying ) then you have an additional 30-50 seats "for free" which you can sell - even cheap. If the trip costs for a certain aircraft & city pair are very similiar you always choose the larger aircraft. Also, DL already has A330 crews, maint. base and tons of spare parts availalbe - nothing for the 787.
If passenger numbers raising in the next years ( and my guess is they will ) we will see DL partner airlines doing the US-EU hub flying including the AF 380 from/to ATL with the larger aircrafts they have. DL's 777 will most likely ending up serving Asia and Australia.