Best A/C for future advancements
 

Hello,

Given one would be open to move and live in all bases (Except NYC) and has a goal of flying wide bodies eventually, what base(s) and Aircraft(s) would offer the

1) fastest upgrades
2) most growth fleet wise
3) is there anywhere a NH can hold wide body right out of training? after how many years can a NH now expect to bid WB?

I appreciate your time and cannot wait to get started.

United has the most wide bodies of that’s your dream!

I’ve been at delta for seven years. Sitting 94% DTW350B. Much better work and home life than i sat at 40% ATL320B. You’re faster route to a widebody would of course be in NYC. 765 is going to new hires and 330 fo is prett junior there. Also SEA 330 fo is fairly junior. If you can get 320 initially it’s a pretty good head star. Made learning the 350 a lot easier. All widebody growth for the foreseeable future is in 330/350. You know, until they place that 787 order.

All will change when the MAXes arrive.

Welcome. By cancelling NYC you dropped the one hub that serves the most destinations in Europe and some of the best international flying that Delta still has. You also dropped the one hub where a few newhires were assigned the 767-400, I believe this is a first at Delta. Pacific flying is toast and is gone unless there are some radical swings in scope of flying that Delta pilots do. Second best hub for international is ATL which also covers a lot of Europe, most of South America and some limited Pacific flying. There are about 4,000 pilots in ATL, 297 are A330 pilots and 249 are A350 pilots.

The 350 has replaced the 777 and the 330 will continue to replace the aging 767-300ERs, known affectionately at Delta as the "ER."

There are 14,000 pilots at Delta, 50% seniority will land you 75% 320A and about the same on the 330B. At 500 retirements a year, anticipate 14 years to get to 50%.

With the commonality of the 330 and 320, the fact that we have many 330s and 321NEO orders, this is the fleet I would gravitate to.

Shortest upgrade will likely be 717 however they almost cancelled that airframe during covid and I dont see that fleet fitting in the picture as we get back to arrival caps at all the hubs.

Good luck!

This talking point is technically correct but IMO vastly over emphasized.

Very few pilots have significant trouble changing manufacturers. This is way, way over-hyped.

The "Bus" is far from some high tech life changing experience that many like to pretend it is. Its old tech at this point anyway. Glass and SA is less than other fleets. Its just not that special or unique.

The other argument of a faster and easier transition when you go to the WB version is likewise mostly exaggerated hyperbole from its fanbois. I dislike VA Ave as much as anyone, but an extra 2 weeks there, at some hypothetical point in the future maybe, is simply not even a minor determining factor in what NB to bid.

As for "The 765 is going to New Hires" point, while technically true we don't know how much longer that will happen. There were only so many positions. Someone not yet hired will likely not have that choice very soon if not already.

The OP asked a lot of conflicting questions so I'm not sure how to answer.