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 15, 2013, 4:11 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,117
DL 747 fleet operation
After the announcement of DTW-ICN going to 747 in August, I am wondering how DL is going to utilize their 16 747's...
Right now it's already spread pretty thin..
13 birds are required to maintain the schedule:
DL is going to need 2 additional birds for DTW-ICN-DTW, bringing the total to 15/16.
Assuming the spare bird stays at NRT, this means any maintenance schedule must be coordinated to allow the spare bird to reposition, leaving the entire fleet without spares for IRROPS! Does anyone else think this is NUTS?
Looking at the current routes for post DTW-ICN change, all still show 747.
What do you think? Will any routes lose the 747 eventually? The obvious candidates are NRT-BKK and HNL-KIX since they are independent from other routes..
Am I missing something?
Right now it's already spread pretty thin..
13 birds are required to maintain the schedule:
- 7 birds for arrivals/departures in NRT (ATL, JFK, DTW, BKK, TPE, MNL, HNL)
- 1 bird overnighting in ATL
- 2 birds for JFK-TLV
- 2 birds for DTW-NGO-MNL-NGO-DTW
- 1 bird for HNL-KIX
DL is going to need 2 additional birds for DTW-ICN-DTW, bringing the total to 15/16.
Assuming the spare bird stays at NRT, this means any maintenance schedule must be coordinated to allow the spare bird to reposition, leaving the entire fleet without spares for IRROPS! Does anyone else think this is NUTS?
Looking at the current routes for post DTW-ICN change, all still show 747.
What do you think? Will any routes lose the 747 eventually? The obvious candidates are NRT-BKK and HNL-KIX since they are independent from other routes..
Am I missing something?
May 15, 2013, 4:18 pm
#2
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Does DL have any 747s parked in the dessert that could be reconfigured and used? This would take time, probably most of the heavy summer travel season, but it might be a long term solution. Or DL could buy a couple old ones from another carrier, since DL seems to like to purchase and refurbish cheap old airframes. SQ just got rid of their last few 747s and at least these were well maintained.
May 15, 2013, 4:44 pm
#4
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That's what I would have said, but DL seems to be getting good use of its 747s and passengers seem to like them in the reconfigured version.
May 15, 2013, 5:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Michigan
Programs: AA EXP(4mm), DL Gold, UA Gold (1mm), HH Diamond, Bonvoy Amb(l/t Titanium). Former EA/PA elite
Posts: 994
After the announcement of DTW-ICN going to 747 in August, I am wondering how DL is going to utilize their 16 747's...
Right now it's already spread pretty thin..
13 birds are required to maintain the schedule:
DL is going to need 2 additional birds for DTW-ICN-DTW, bringing the total to 15/16.
Am I missing something?
Right now it's already spread pretty thin..
13 birds are required to maintain the schedule:
- 7 birds for arrivals/departures in NRT (ATL, JFK, DTW, BKK, TPE, MNL, HNL)
- 1 bird overnighting in ATL
- 2 birds for JFK-TLV
- 2 birds for DTW-NGO-MNL-NGO-DTW
- 1 bird for HNL-KIX
DL is going to need 2 additional birds for DTW-ICN-DTW, bringing the total to 15/16.
Am I missing something?
May 15, 2013, 5:47 pm
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
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Posts: 100,404
SEA-NRT becomes a 747 sometime this fall. I'm already ticketed on it, so I hope this doesn't change.
May 15, 2013, 6:02 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,117
Wow.. missed the SEA-NRT change... app actually shows a 747 on that route starting June 1st!
In that case, something's gotta give, cause DL needs 17 birds but only has 16, with 15 of them put to daily use starting two weeks from today.
This is strange.
In that case, something's gotta give, cause DL needs 17 birds but only has 16, with 15 of them put to daily use starting two weeks from today.
This is strange.
May 15, 2013, 6:11 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: DL PM 1MM
Posts: 3,439
...
Delta also announced it will deploy its flagship Boeing 747-400 aircraft on flights between Seattle and Tokyo-Narita.
The 376-seat aircraft features 48 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 42 Economy Comfort seats and 286 economy seats, and has been retrofitted to feature significant upgrades in its onboard experience, including direct-aisle access in every BusinessElite seat, individual in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft and other amenities.
Delta will be the only U.S. passenger airline operating the iconic Boeing 747 in Seattle. Dubbed the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 is one of the world's most recognizable aircraft due to the graceful curve of its upper deck.
The aircraft will begin flying the Tokyo route on June 1, 2013.
...
Delta also announced it will deploy its flagship Boeing 747-400 aircraft on flights between Seattle and Tokyo-Narita.
The 376-seat aircraft features 48 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 42 Economy Comfort seats and 286 economy seats, and has been retrofitted to feature significant upgrades in its onboard experience, including direct-aisle access in every BusinessElite seat, individual in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft and other amenities.
Delta will be the only U.S. passenger airline operating the iconic Boeing 747 in Seattle. Dubbed the "Queen of the Skies," the 747 is one of the world's most recognizable aircraft due to the graceful curve of its upper deck.
The aircraft will begin flying the Tokyo route on June 1, 2013.
...
May 15, 2013, 6:24 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Isn't this the airline catch-22? You gotta maximize the use of a fleet and deal with it if it goes bad. If I am running an airline, I am not sitting 3 or 4 planes around waiting for IROPS. The bad assumption you are making is that the same model of plane must be used to cover for the IROPS. I just flew a 76W DTW-SFO and it was going back to ATL and I wondered how that plane somehow ended up in the places it did.
May 15, 2013, 6:27 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
Isn't this the airline catch-22? You gotta maximize the use of a fleet and deal with it if it goes bad. If I am running an airline, I am not sitting 3 or 4 planes around waiting for IROPS. The bad assumption you are making is that the same model of plane must be used to cover for the IROPS. I just flew a 76W DTW-SFO and it was going back to ATL and I wondered how that plane somehow ended up in the places it did.
May 15, 2013, 7:00 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MSP
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Posts: 2,303
May 15, 2013, 7:12 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: Delta skymiles DM + 1MM
Posts: 8,144
Here's one change for you. DTW to NGO will no longer be daily. Beginning October 1, it looks like DTW to NGO will be 4x weekly. Also, that means that NGO to MNL will also go down to 4x weekly.
Last edited by DL2SXM; May 15, 2013 at 7:19 pm
May 15, 2013, 7:23 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: ATL/PDK
Programs: DL, SPG
Posts: 202
They are swapping with 744 on DTWNRT for a 777, the same 777 that was on DTWICN. Not sure if it's formally been announced but this is what I am hearing.
16 active during summer. After summer 1-2 in maintenance.
16 active during summer. After summer 1-2 in maintenance.