Originally Posted by Longboater

Apples to oranges comparison with UA and the equipment they'd use on those flights, i.e. the 787-9. UA's issue is the extra flying, for them at least, would make a marginally profitable flight into a flight that loses money on almost every flight. Delta has a different cost structure and the A359 is better on longhaul flights with cargo than the 789. They make it work, even if the westbound flight approaches 16 hours of flight time on the worst winter days.