The KAL 777 took up the slack.

“I’m fatigued.”

Contrary to some posts on here the 350 version we bought is not a 777 replacement. It does not have the range with equal takeoff parameters. Delta knew that when they purchased it. The ULR version available in about a year will be a 777LR replacement.
The two routes you quote are 1300 miles different but one is with the wind and one downwind. Big difference.
We wanted the 787, Boeing would not play ball with us on the delivery schedule or build more 777-200 LR’s as a gap filler. We got our second choice but it is meeting the promised specs.
The ICN flight on 29 APR had 42 seats empty with 11 non revs boarded. The flight on 30 APR went out with only 15 seats empty.

You seem to speak from some position of "in the know." So, we screwed it up? We didn't leverage the 787-8 NWA cancellation into -9 slots. We just thought Boeing would make room for DAL despite a massive order backlog? And.. a 25 yr fleet acquisition is our 2nd choice? And almost all our partners operate 787s. When they aren't flying 777-300s. OFG

Singapore is announcing a 19-hour flight from Singapore direct NYC on a 350 ULR. That’s some serious legs!

They leveraged a 300 million dollar store credit and some cheap 737-900s a few years back when the 787 had a few wrinkles to iron out. I'm surprised everyone thinks so highly of the 787, it's a glorified 767. And I like the 767 but many didn't as a wide body.

I've heard just the opposite about the 787 from the UAL guys/gals on the Sydney routes.

I understand that DL has the 268t wv. The current available max wv is 277t which should be available to DL via a paper/sw upgrade. This is normally obtained after shelling out some money to Airbus. The 277t wv configured with a reasonably heavy cabin routinely lifts 40-41t on a 15.5hr sector including 7-8t of reserves. From my understanding, the 787-9 does not come close to this in terms of payload/range performance.

I don’t believe it’s a paper upgrade. Different landing gear, higher thrust motors with a different fan, beefed up wing box ect...

All a350s after msn 21 are fit for the 277t mtow. The upcoming modifications( re twisted wing, beefed up gear and bigger winglets) will allow for 280t in the near future. This build standard will start delivery with Iberia's first a350. This also forms the basis for the ulr. Only the -1000 has higher thrust engines.