iaflyer,

Yes, Delta's plans for the 747 withdrawal have been reported in the press.

CAPA openly guessed that we'd be a partner in China Eastern's long haul ambitions and noted they are getting their 787's starting this fall.

In years past Delta has been reluctant to partner too extensively with a State Owned carrier like China Eastern. The Chinese have been transparent about their ambitions; they desire our know how, they desire our software tools, they desire our passengers and revenue. When you read their musings you wonder, "what is in it for Delta" ?

I think, "cheap network expansion" might be that answer.

There truly isn't a market where long haul flying is easy money right now. It seems there is money to be made in domestic markets, but long haul service suffers from both the State Owned and Subsidized competition as well as the cost and complexity of simply providing that kind of product.

China Eastern is lately sounding more rational than SkyMark. They are the World's 6 largest carrier with around 100m domestic passengers yearly. Delta could find synergies connecting to that market (and you would think a 747 would be just the thing for the kind of volume required).

Who knows ... there is obviously a near glut of capacity fighting it out over the Word's oceans. I do not like the idea of 10 330's replacing at least that many 747's and 767's, but, if it was our business, that is likely the decision we would make as well.

I think we flow something like 20% of Gol and AeroMexico's passengers across each others' networks. It is accretive to our flying and block hours.