Originally Posted by
ChamplinAl
2) Has Delta determined when in 2020 the SEA-PEK-SEA routes will get the A330-900neo aircraft?
With SEA-CDG switching to 330 in April 2020, Delta will have to come up another 767 rotation out of SEA or use 2x767 to support SEA-PEK (which would be silly).
Or most likely Delta does not really have plans that far in advance and they will figure it out later.
Edited to add: SEA-CDG alone would not help to save 1x767. I guess the PEK route will stay with 767 for the foreseeable future,at least with current schedule when Delta overnights 767 in PEK before flying back to SEA. 330neo is more efficient and it needs to fly more to justify cost of buying new plane. 767 can afford to have more ground time (less fuel effient, higher maintetnance cost, less empty seats when not flying, but at the same time no mortgage to worry about) . For same reason South America routes will be probably last to get 330neo or 350.
I also think overnight at destination is also one of the reasons SEA-HKG did not work out for 330 and 777. HKG could not be done by 767, but PEK can.