Jul 14, 2013, 4:18 am
Last edit by: Zorak
Last updated: 03/7/2018
Delta Air Lines Boeing 747-400 Fleet Status/Information
Of 16 frames: 0 Active, 1 Preserved, 15 Retired/Stored,
Registration / Ship# (Delivery Month/Yr): Status/other information
N661US / 6301 (12/89): Preserved at the Delta Flight Museum. Was the first 744 ever built. Last revenue flight was HNL-ATL arriving on the morning of 09/09/15. Arrived at the Delta Flight Museum 04/30/2016 and was renovated to be a permanent exhibit. To learn more about the project visit this website. (DL museum website is here)
N662US / 6302 (03/89): Retired, flew to MZJ on 10/15/17. Was the first 744 (in 2012) to be renovated into the 376 pax configuration after the DL/NW merger.
N663US / 6303 (01/89): SCRAPPED, flew to MZJ on 11/05/15.
N664US / 6304 (04/89): SCRAPPED, en-route (DTW-ICN) over China on 06/17/15, was severely damaged by hail. Temporary repairs to make it air-worthy were made. It flew directly from ICN to MZJ on 07/10/15.
N665US / 6305 (09/89): SCRAPPED, flew to MZJ 12/01/16. Was the first 744 (in 2008) to be re-painted in the Delta livery after the DL/NW merger.
N666US / 6306 (08/89): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/26/17. Was the last 744 (in 2017) to perform a revenue passenger flight (12/19/2017 DL158 ICN-DTW).
N667US / 6307 (07/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 11/18/17.
N668US / 6308 (07/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/06/17.
N669US / 6309 (08/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/23/17.
N670US / 6310 (08/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/26/17.
N671US / 6311 (03/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 09/30/14. Due to 6304's damage, it was pulled from storage on 06/28/15 and re-entered revenue service. Was flown back to MZJ and re-retired on 10/31/15.
N672US / 6312 (07/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/01/14.
N673US / 6313 (08/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/31/16.
N674US / 6314 (10/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 01/03/18. Was the last 744 in the fleet to retire (in 2018).
N675NW / 6315 (03/02): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/25/15.
N676NW / 6316 (04/02): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/01/14.
Fleet Notes:
Final scheduled flight: DL158 ICN-DTW 12/19/17 (N666US).
Delta Air Lines Boeing 747-400 Fleet Status/Information
Of 16 frames: 0 Active, 1 Preserved, 15 Retired/Stored,
Registration / Ship# (Delivery Month/Yr): Status/other information
N661US / 6301 (12/89): Preserved at the Delta Flight Museum. Was the first 744 ever built. Last revenue flight was HNL-ATL arriving on the morning of 09/09/15. Arrived at the Delta Flight Museum 04/30/2016 and was renovated to be a permanent exhibit. To learn more about the project visit this website. (DL museum website is here)
N662US / 6302 (03/89): Retired, flew to MZJ on 10/15/17. Was the first 744 (in 2012) to be renovated into the 376 pax configuration after the DL/NW merger.
N663US / 6303 (01/89): SCRAPPED, flew to MZJ on 11/05/15.
N664US / 6304 (04/89): SCRAPPED, en-route (DTW-ICN) over China on 06/17/15, was severely damaged by hail. Temporary repairs to make it air-worthy were made. It flew directly from ICN to MZJ on 07/10/15.
N665US / 6305 (09/89): SCRAPPED, flew to MZJ 12/01/16. Was the first 744 (in 2008) to be re-painted in the Delta livery after the DL/NW merger.
N666US / 6306 (08/89): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/26/17. Was the last 744 (in 2017) to perform a revenue passenger flight (12/19/2017 DL158 ICN-DTW).
N667US / 6307 (07/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 11/18/17.
N668US / 6308 (07/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/06/17.
N669US / 6309 (08/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/23/17.
N670US / 6310 (08/90): Retired, flew to MZJ 12/26/17.
N671US / 6311 (03/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 09/30/14. Due to 6304's damage, it was pulled from storage on 06/28/15 and re-entered revenue service. Was flown back to MZJ and re-retired on 10/31/15.
N672US / 6312 (07/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/01/14.
N673US / 6313 (08/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/31/16.
N674US / 6314 (10/99): Retired, flew to MZJ 01/03/18. Was the last 744 in the fleet to retire (in 2018).
N675NW / 6315 (03/02): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/25/15.
N676NW / 6316 (04/02): Retired, flew to MZJ 10/01/14.
Fleet Notes:
Final scheduled flight: DL158 ICN-DTW 12/19/17 (N666US).
DL 747 fleet operation
May 17, 2013 | 5:23 am
#61
Join Date: Nov 2009
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http://airlineroute.net/2013/01/10/d...rt-s13update3/
suggests that SEA-NRT will be seasonal and not permanent.
I don't mind if there's excess capacity in the market between these city pairs....means more opportunity for some reasonably---or cheap priced flights.
ANA returns on 01 June, but with 777 instead of 787. Would love to see Untied exit the market and turn it over to ANA.
suggests that SEA-NRT will be seasonal and not permanent.
I don't mind if there's excess capacity in the market between these city pairs....means more opportunity for some reasonably---or cheap priced flights.
ANA returns on 01 June, but with 777 instead of 787. Would love to see Untied exit the market and turn it over to ANA.
Also DTW-NGO is going 5x weekly in Oct.
May 17, 2013 | 7:15 am
#62
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Delta's strategy on used 717 and MD90 doesn't mean they favor used planes. It means they favor used MD based airplanes. They have a lot in the existing fleet and these planes fit their needs and have lower overhead costs for them. All Delta did was add newer MD's in place to phase out the older ones gradually.
I doubt Delta will pick up any used 747-400's
I doubt Delta will pick up any used 747-400's
May 17, 2013 | 8:49 am
#63
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I agree with all this. To amplify, my understanding is that the cost appeal of the used DC-9 derivatives is that they're cheap and used for short flights for which a comparatively small fraction of their flight time at cruise. That helps the low acquisition costs balance out the poor fuel economy (compared to newer narrow bodies), while they replace the longer MD90/DC-9 missions with modern 737s. The latter bit is very much not the case for long haul planes, so buying wide bodies even at a steep discount is a tougher economic case. That doesn't mean that it makes sense to get rid of 744s they already own which still have cycles left in them, of course.
So operationally a MD90 and 717 were just used, not any worse than existing aircraft designs. They actually are cash generators more so than a brand new Airbus with a plane that can last longer.
I am not sure how an A380 compares cost wise with the 747-400, but it does allow additional seats so its great for long haul routes which need to grow capacity.
If Delta can wait longer, perhaps it can skip the existing 747-8i and A380 generation and obtain the next generation of jets hopefully something impressive.
I know airlines are adding 777 and 787 equivalents or even A350's so Delta could scale down if it has more alliance partners and JV's.
Last edited by adamj023; May 17, 2013 at 9:08 am
May 17, 2013 | 9:00 am
#64
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What is sad is that classified projects have jets going at really fast rates of speed so while the MD design was rock solid, I could understand classified being faster, but it seems as though the gap differences between classified and commercial are exceedingly wide these days.
Would be nice if Delta was on the cutting edge and surprised us with its international strategy.
Would be nice if Delta was on the cutting edge and surprised us with its international strategy.
May 17, 2013 | 9:10 am
#65
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We will see what Boeing and Airbus do on the next models and if any new manufacturers pop up.
Bombardier did impressive work on the C-Series to date so even the smaller carriers are getting into the smaller mainstream models.
With the super high fuel costs on jets, and with the phaseout of the older gas guzzlers, I don't thinks its against the realm of possibilities that future jets will have some way to sharply or eliminate fuel usage more than existing jets.
So Delta has the right strategies here with regards to the MD's which are great planes for the fossil fuel generation and then down the road, we will see what gets offered.
Delta might as well run the 747-400s as long as it can and it is good that they didn't rush into decisions unlike its competitors.
The Dreamliner was the latest state of the art aircraft design and to a laymen, it is a really nice ride. But it still was based on regular conventional principles of aviation.
Delta has 20 Dreamliner orders for 2020 so it has some flexibility with Boeing.
Bombardier did impressive work on the C-Series to date so even the smaller carriers are getting into the smaller mainstream models.
With the super high fuel costs on jets, and with the phaseout of the older gas guzzlers, I don't thinks its against the realm of possibilities that future jets will have some way to sharply or eliminate fuel usage more than existing jets.
So Delta has the right strategies here with regards to the MD's which are great planes for the fossil fuel generation and then down the road, we will see what gets offered.
Delta might as well run the 747-400s as long as it can and it is good that they didn't rush into decisions unlike its competitors.
The Dreamliner was the latest state of the art aircraft design and to a laymen, it is a really nice ride. But it still was based on regular conventional principles of aviation.
Delta has 20 Dreamliner orders for 2020 so it has some flexibility with Boeing.
Last edited by adamj023; May 17, 2013 at 9:20 am
May 17, 2013 | 9:30 am
#66
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We will see what Boeing and Airbus do on the next models and if any new manufacturers pop up.
Bombardier did impressive work on the C-Series to date so even the smaller carriers are getting into the smaller mainstream models.
With the super high fuel costs on jets, and with the phaseout of the older gas guzzlers, I don't thinks its against the realm of possibilities that future jets will have some way to sharply or eliminate fuel usage more than existing jets.
So Delta has the right strategies here with regards to the MD's which are great planes for the fossil fuel generation and then down the road, we will see what gets offered.
Delta might as well run the 747-400s as long as it can and it is good that they didn't rush into decisions unlike its competitors.
The Dreamliner was the latest state of the art aircraft design and to a laymen, it is a really nice ride. But it still was based on regular conventional principles of aviation.
Delta has 20 Dreamliner orders for 2020 so it has some flexibility with Boeing.
Bombardier did impressive work on the C-Series to date so even the smaller carriers are getting into the smaller mainstream models.
With the super high fuel costs on jets, and with the phaseout of the older gas guzzlers, I don't thinks its against the realm of possibilities that future jets will have some way to sharply or eliminate fuel usage more than existing jets.
So Delta has the right strategies here with regards to the MD's which are great planes for the fossil fuel generation and then down the road, we will see what gets offered.
Delta might as well run the 747-400s as long as it can and it is good that they didn't rush into decisions unlike its competitors.
The Dreamliner was the latest state of the art aircraft design and to a laymen, it is a really nice ride. But it still was based on regular conventional principles of aviation.
Delta has 20 Dreamliner orders for 2020 so it has some flexibility with Boeing.
*Just kidding. There is nothing happening at Area 51.
May 17, 2013 | 9:43 am
#67
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Delta's new designs will be based on the 'new math' principles demonstrated in award calendar pricing. We will all learn to love 'lift monetization'. Unfortunately, there are some problems getting around the aerodynamics of ham sandwiches.
May 17, 2013 | 9:47 am
#68
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May 17, 2013 | 9:49 am
#69
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They'll save money by going to a partial electrical propulsion system, which requires that everybody pedal constantly for the entire flight.
May 17, 2013 | 9:58 am
#70
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Not exactly but we should be able to do better than what we have in terms of speed.
May 17, 2013 | 10:03 am
#71
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May 17, 2013 | 10:04 am
#72
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May 17, 2013 | 10:05 am
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Not exactly but we should be able to do better than what we have in terms of speed.
May 17, 2013 | 10:06 am
#74
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There is only one flaw I can see in the argument: That the 747 fleet is stretched thin. It may have been the last year as ships were in for mods and one was stored. It allowed for only 13 or 14 to be in service at one time. Now, all the mods have been completed, the one in storage has been refitted and back in service, and with all planes up and running it should not be a stretch to add some service.
If anything, the 747 fleet has been underutilized for several years.
If anything, the 747 fleet has been underutilized for several years.
May 17, 2013 | 10:10 am
#75
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