Originally Posted by
BearX220
DL has been working the hell out of the 744 fleet and probably wishes it had more. Fuel consumption and refurb charges are more than balanced out by the fact that they're bought and paid for and provide welcome TPAC lift. Retirement in 2017 will mean they've given 22-28 years of service and the recent refurbs, along with C checks, etc. are just part of the predictable cost of owning / operating over that timespan. They still got their money's worth and then some.
Only 4 of the 744's are "bought and paid for". The remaining 12 are leased. When the decision to refurb was made back in Sep 2010 (completed in 2012), I would suspect they intended to keep them past 2017. They certainly would have factored fuel and maintenance costs in that decision. I think they just found that the economic recovery has not met their expectations from back in 2010 and the 744's are just too much aircraft for their needs.