Originally Posted by
ChamplinAl
It appears that Delta is aiming at retiring their A330-200 fleet of 11 within the next 24 months, here's my analysis. By viewing the last full summer schedule and winter schedule, Delta runs their set of A330-200 aircraft on 8 routes. I have also gone out to DL's schedule as far as
they have loaded it - 2025 April 11th. I have also determined that Fridays have highest percentage of their full schedule running. So, by noticing that particular Friday, there will be only 4 routes served by the 332's. Now, by moving back from that Friday into the last
Friday in March (3-28), there was 8 routes running the 332's. So, unless there is a major update being done in these frames, these 11 will be probably cut in half going forward. Here is the 8 routes and what will be happening to them. JFK-LOS (which is a seasonal route) will
terminate on March 28, 2025. BOS-LHR and DTW-LHR and SLC-LHR will continue on run after March 28, 2025 but with A330-900neo's. The remaining 4 routes will continue after April 4, 2025 using the A332's: ATL-LOS + ATL-FRA + DTW-FRA + JFK-FRA. These remaining routes (are not seasonal routes) could also be replaced sometime in the future with the A339's. Anyone else hear anything to the contrary to my information / thoughts - from DL insiders? I'm all ears. Just saying.
Interesting. The A332s are 19 years old, and are younger than some of the older A333s, and all of the B763s and B764s. I thought DL might shift the A332s and B764s to cover the thinner routes currently flown by the B763s when those aircraft are retired. There are some long-thin routes the B764 does not have the range to support, but the A332 can easily support. With the B763s scheduled for retirement by 2027, and the B764s following probably in 2030, also retiring out the A332s at the same time as the B763s will leave DL without an aircraft below the capacity of the B764, and by 2030 below the capacity of the A333/A339.
My guess is the A332 retirement is being driven by their next D-checks. DL must not think the A332s will have enough life remaining to be worth investing in another D-check.