A couple of quick corrections from 80s original post may help add some clarity. From the DAL contract:

"The Company will maintain a minimum ratio of revenue block hours of Company flying on all narrowbody aircraft and all B-767-300 (non – ER) aircraft (MBH) to revenue block hours of flying in category A and C operations (DBH) under the following chart:"


Category A and C refer to Delta regional partners.



So a 747, 330, or 767ER would not count, but a non- ER 767 would, since it is a domestic aircraft.


As of DOS, the mainline flew 54% of the domestic block hours covered by this ratio, when all is complete the minimum will be 61%, but a more realistic number based on the business plan is 64%.


Also, on the international joint venture with AF/KLM/AZ, the production balance is measured by Equivalent Available Seat Kilometers (EASKs), not passenger seat kilometers. EASKs also consider the cargo capacity of the various aircraft. EASKs is defined as;


“EASK” means equivalent available seat kilometers, a measurement of capacity adjusted for an aircraft’s seat density and cargo capacity, as defined and calculated in the AF/KL/AZ JV agreement.

By utilizing EASKs, as opposed to block hours or frequencies, Delta pilots fly over 60% of the JV pilot block hours, while only flying approximately 50% of the EASKs.