Originally Posted by
alphaeagle
Extra range won't help them land in JNU. I do wonder if they've been putting passengers on AS flights, that don't have the same weather issues that DL has.
Extra range won't help them land, but it gives them more options to try and get in and divert if needed instead of not even being able to leave Seattle.
Published range on the CR7 is about 1,600 miles. SEA-JNU is 907 miles.
SEA-JNU-SEA is 1,800 miles, not counting circling above JNU.
SEA-JNU-ANC is about 1,478 miles, again not counting circling above JNU.
All I was trying to say is that their diversion options are really limited to airports that don't have DL service in winter (SIT would be my likely guess), and that presents a whole host of additional issues if you actually have to land there, hence why they likely won't even leave SEA if JNU looks marginal.
If DL chooses to maintain JNU year-round after this season, my bet is they use a brawnier aircraft for that reason. Just my $0.02.