Ex-Delta B77L operating AI flights to the US
 

I like the suggestion by yashk upthread that the Delta 777s should be deployed where there is competition, i.e.NYC and ORD and not SFO. But who knows what the new management thinks. They seem to be in no hurry to get rid of those old seats.

SFO-BLR is a UA route... I think they delayed starting it but will at some point, if they haven't already.

I'm sure it will be a WHILE before the UA SFO-BLR-SFO starts due to Russia restrictions.. I have a feeling UA might just give up and do codeshare with AI

Any updates on where the Delta birds are going? Lifemiles has a bunch of AI award availability for next summer to the US at the moment!

I recently looked at J seat maps for SFO, NYC and ORD in January, but all were 2-3-2 except BLR-SFO which is still in some kind of undetermined status (Google shows flights but EF does not have seat maps). Admittedly I did not look at Canadian destinations, but most likely the Delta 772s will be on SFO routes (BLR-SFO is a long way). Another poster suggested that they should be used on routes with nonstop competition (ORD, NYC) but it's not clear that the new AI management are that smart.

So this ex-DL 77L has the DL seats as well?

Or is it that none of the 5 planned DL aircraft have been inducted yet?

VT-AEF is ex-Delta, N702DN

From how long ago?

Edited to Add​​​​: Got it - Nov 2022. Great that they're moving fast on these! :tu:

No idea what you can see. AI has taken delivery of only one ex-DL plane so far, VT-AEF, and to my knowledge it has not operated out of anywhere yet. And when it does, it will be BLR-SFO, which is 3x weekly and can be served with one plane so the crews don't need to mix plane types.

I can see by trying to make a dummy booking on the BOM-EWR route for my trip in March. AI 191 is operating as 777-200LR. The seat selection also confirms this. Of course a lot can change between now & March but as of now it seems like they will be operating the ex DL planes on both the BLR-SFO & BOM-EWR routes.

How do you know it's the new ex-DL 777L? Could be the old AI ones for all we know.

Take a look at the seat configuration.

I wouldn't change any plans for now... the new aircraft are slowly coming into the fleet and any technical issue will garble the rostering.

Interesting. They are still not selling Premium Economy per Google Flights.

Not changing the January trip. Sticking with KL for that one. But for March I'm considering flying out of BOM. If they stick to the new aircraft then great. If not then its not the end of the world.