Originally Posted by
ChamplinAl
It appears that N1200K is the next 76E on its way to CAN for its PS upgrades. My calculations mean DL will have 21 frames converted, and only 14 remaining without PS (not including the "L" versioned interior frames). I'm a bit surprised that there are still a few GE engined (the newer frames) that are still awaiting the conversion and PW frames (older) are going ahead of the remaining GE guys. Delta's tech experts have the data to prioritize the order much better than I. Maybe some of the remaining 14 will never have the PS conversion. Has Delta made a decision on Boeing's B737-max10 ordering over awaiting on Boeing's B797 aircraft? Another possible option might be picking up some A330-800neos or used A330-200's (which seams doubtful), as there are very few 332 frames stored with PW engines (which is what Delta has currently). The 332's have quite a bit more range than 76E's do but are very close to the same number of seats. I'm a bit surprised that Airbus isn't attempting to be a bit more visible on selling their A330-800neos as a fine replacement aircraft for the B767-300ER's and possibly even the B767-400ER's - which aren't quite as old as the 76E's are but will be needing to be replaced fairly soon also.
I thought DL should have considered leasing the former AA A332s when they parked them. Yes they are RR powered like most A332s, but I think DL could handle an RR powered subfleet since they have worked RR engines in the past on the 777-200ERs and currently on the A350s. The business class seats were the same, so they would just need new covers. Back during the pandemic, the A332 would have been a very flexible airplane, able to fly long routes with fewer passengers due to the pandemic. After the pandemic, it. would have provided a plane to fit some of the long-thin routes that are starting to return.
I also saw in the proposed DL pilots' contract they want a below-deck pilots crew rest area on the 763s, which was a feature of the 76T subvariant, the aircraft that were sold for freighter conversion. DL should still have those rest facilities, and they may have installed some on their remaining current 763 fleet. I don't recall if the proposed pilot contract wanted the same for the 764 fleet. The pilots were asking for a lower scheduled block time threshold for an airplane to have dedicated pilot rest areas. I think the justification is sometimes flights get delayed, so the actual block time exceeds the scheduled block time, or the start of the clock is delayed.