Originally Posted by
sailingfun
From Velvet posted on another form.
Year:
• 2026+ Hiring aiming for 3-4% growth with surges in more hiring during peak wide-body delivery years. The certification of the 73MAX10 will also acutely drive hiring in addition to 3-4% growth.
• 787 Order for 60 tails primarily consisting of the 787-10 and possibly 787-9 TBA with options TBA Q1 2026. With 40 A35K/359/330 on order that will bring the total to at least 100 + however many options (rumored 20-30). This will make the DL wide-body fleet largest in its history and most diverse among U.S. carriers with the 787, 350, and 330. This will put the WB fleet on-par with United’s due the many 777 replacements that start in 2027.
*
B763 pays narrowbody at both carriers (not a WB)
Delta staffs 4-man crews with 2 Captain 2 FO
United staffs 4-man crews with 1 Captain 3 FO
Delta WB-paying fleet today: 146
United WB-paying fleet today: 192
Delta fleet post deliveries with 330CEO & 764 retirements: *With no 787 options: 223 [350, 330, 787]. With 20-30 787 options: 243-253 [350, 330, 787].
United fleet post deliveries with 777-2, 777-2ER, 764 retirements: 243 WB-paying AC [787, 777-3ER]. The 350 order have been delayed numerous times and are not expected to ever materialize. Any future 787 options excercised would be to replace the 777-3ER which is a 1:1 swap.
•SLC is slated to become “HQ#2” with the development and planned expansion of the new SLC Training Campus.
•SLC to receive a A350 base in 2026.
•Lots of new routes TBA when new SLC terminal opens up + same with Austin.
•SLC, DTW, MSP, ATL, and potentially AUS set to receive Delta One Clubs. *AUS depends on airport authority club space allotment.
• AUS to receive a 34,000’ SF Skyclub when new terminal goes up. Second largest in Delta’s system after LGA.
•AUS set to become designated as a hub when the new gates are received. Up to 15 gates minimum to be Delta’s at AUS with access to common use gates. Potential for Delta operated flights to ICN, CDG, and takeover AMS route from KLM. Delta confident they can force Southwest out of Austin due to their HOU/DAL hub vicinity and lack of premium/competitive product.
•New international routes being announced or soon to be: ATL/BOS-TLV, ATL-DEL, LAX-SIN/MNL, JFK/LAX-ICN, ATL-RUH, SLC-ICN, LAX-MEL, to name a few.
•Delta’s focus over next 5 years is to grow in Asia, Middle East, and Africa. “To take TPAC volume from United” using their #1 position in LAX and international lead in SEA to develop the gateway. Also, beginning more Asia out of NYC.
•Q3 2026: Delta made up of 60% industry profits. The most critical quarter in the industry. United made just about half as Delta did in Q3 despite dated labor contracts, more capacity boost (sing that their growth is unsustainable), $10B less in market cap, and more debt. Management expressed pride in being #1 in NYC and LAX. Not worried about any competitor nearing or taking the crown in revenue/profits. Claims their hub structure is resilient and strongest of the US3. Four fortress hubs: SLC, ATL, DTW, MSP dictate market share, hubs less prone to WX delays, and lower taxes/costs. Most premium passenger outside of major hubs choose to connect on Delta due to brand recognition and AMEX partnership. Delta leads in sports charters and corporate contracts. United relies to much on RJ’s, no fortress hub/region, no hub in the most populous portion of U.S.: the southeast, no focus cities, weak customer service, and industry worst domestic network: “they can’t move people in volume/scale like Delta can”. Delta focus cities and hubs are affluent, growing fast, TX-hub formalizing, and DL is #1 legacy in many non-hubs: MCI, RDU, IND, MCO, TPA, JAX, CHS, BNA, etc.. SFO and ORD have declining populations and corporations leaving other UA hubs splintered for market share. DL confident AS cannot compete globally - will keep their intl. ambitions under heel with superior planes, service, clubs, copy/grow SEA routes. DL wants all new gates in SEA terminal in 2032.
•ATL will remain busiest hub in the world. Will continue to lean into ATL and up-gauge more.
•Delta says the countries top brands want to be associated with Delta: AMEX, Paramount, CrunchyRoll, YouTube, Uber, Starbucks, Hertz.. Delta is a “lifestyle/brand”, not an airline. They are the “Google or Apple” of airline industry.
•Delta claims best domestic network, most mainline operation, international expansion starts 2026. Partnership/codeshares with Riyadh and IndiGo will make Delta+Skyteam biggest in Asia. Skyteam already biggest in South America, Mexico, Africa, and TAP will likely join Skyteam making them on-par with Star Alliance in Europe.
•Delta’s revenue is extremely diversified unlike competitors. Delta will receive the GE MRO which they say will be extremely lucrative to their already leading MX business. Would sell oil refinery but clean up cost too much. Must grow international on own metal more, but will leverage JV ties to maximize profit. Delta’s JV ties are stronger than that of UA+LH and AA+BA with great mid-continent European hubs able to expand in AMS and CDG. Korean Air merger with Asiana in ICN will create a monopoly for DL+KE in ICN that can’t be replicated by UA+ANA or AA+JAL in NRT. ICN has infinite room to expand both in real estate and slot free, “better connecting hub in Asia than Japan”.