Originally Posted by mtparadis
DL does this so that the plane can return same day. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these 738s continued on to west coast cities and returned via a redeye. Leaving after about 9:30 allows most Eastern cities to have at least one inbound flight and arriving back by 8:00 allows most to have one outbound flight.
And the 9:30am departure does connect well with morning arrivals from the west. But I agree,
N830MH, the red eye isn't much fun.