Originally Posted by
Mountain Explorer
I mean, they aren't denying boarding. They aren't removing luggage. Looking at the seatmap, I don't see any indication that they are blocking seats. They aren't diverting for fuel and they most definitely are not ditching in the ocean. They aren't subbing other aircraft. My experience does not match your claims.
You clearly have very strong personal feelings, do you have any evidence to support this?
I flew the aircraft out of SLC. I have friends still flying it. Almost every flight in the summer is what Delta refers to as payload optimized. Keep in mind as a passenger you have no idea how many seats they might have blocked and how much cargo is left on the ground. Yesterday they blocked over 60 seats. Every flight is also different. They also run the minimum amount of fuel possible. Passenger loads are often proactively adjusted by rebooking customers in advance on other flights.
The aircraft can not even meet the climb restrictions on the departure SIDS most days. We had to get the restrictions waived prior to takeoff. In the end the proof is that Airbus can’t sell the aircraft. United has a desperate need for widebodies. They could convert their A350 orders to the A330-900 and start getting deliveries next week. Dont think Airbus has not pitched it. Despite Boeing being way behind on the 787 deliveries they would prefer to wait.
One final reason. Delta has told the pilots that aircraft performance issues have put a A330 pilot base in SLC on hold. I had a real vested interest in that base opening.