Originally Posted by
scambo1
I heard exactly what you heard, Africa 1st then deep SA. I was hoping they would round it out to include all the MEDs including India. I realize its not a one hop to India.
Truth is, I'm interested in flying India again. That should demographically make me the only 1 out of 12500 pilots.
Speaking of India, I had read that DAL was modifying the depressurization routes to cruise at a higher altitude than 10K'. Has that happened? That should really simplify flying to India. I flew thru Afghanistan and Iran in the daytime 2 things struck me: 1. there were no houses, boats or jetskis on the lakes and 2. Those are some BIIIGGG frikkin mountains.
In order for DAL to get a reasonable ROI on training costs for an ATL330 base, they have to start by reducing deadheads to/from and layovers in ATL. If you look at the routes that are flown/have been flown by the 330 out of ATL, here is what you get for originating flights.
ATL-HNL
ATL-ACC
ATL LOS
ATL CDG
ATL FRA
ATL BCN
ATL DUB
ATL AMS
ATL LHR/LGW
Of those routes only four seem to be more than a 2-3 month seasonal thing - HNL, ACC, LOS and AMS. LOS may in fact be year round on the 330 if the bunks are installed before winter.
I would look at those 4 routes being the staple of ATL 330 flying until the base is expanded, otherwise DAL has ****ed away a lot of money for training for little return. There is the possibility that ATL-DKR-LAD returns to the 330 as well as ATL to deep SA. I just don't see it happening yet with the initial base size being so small.
My $.02 and I'm probably wrong in assuming that DAL did this to save money in the long term.