WB RFP
 

What's the latest with the WB RFP leaning toward Airbus or Boeing?

I heard we are getting used 777s from Air India

Radio silence so far.

A whisper a few weeks ago told me Airbus 350 was a lock, but I've had trouble confirming this with any more certainty with folks in the know.

Will Delta install humidifiers in the new airplanes?

If it costs an extra dime, no.

Considering the last widebody that was delivered from Boeing was15 years ago, then we sold them all during COVID... I don't see Boeing as being seriously looked at. We do buy lots of Boeings... just the 737.

some project pilots have been approached already.
exact type classified till the announcement.

typically options decided on about 18 months prior to first delivery, so too early yet.
unless we intercept someone else’s order, then we’d take them as they are.

Delta would probably pay extra to delete the humidifiers to save maint cost in the long run. One less system to keep up.

Any 350 drivers around here? Curious how the JNB/CPT routes are working out in poor wind conditions. Meaning, are we still needing fuel stops on the way back or blocking seats? The 350-1000 seems like it’s needed for the long term but I’m not on the fleet and just hear rumors. Seems flight ops has made it known we will eventually be an all Airbus WB fleet and if nothing else the 763’s need a replacement lines up, with the 764 to follow.

Someone on the employee/nonrev page said they were stuck on the jet a total of 26 hours JNB-CPT-SJU-ATL. Not a way to win over premium passengers.

In Dec and Jan flying AMS to ATL we were carrying hundreds of bags from the JNB-ATL flight. They ran them up from JNB on KLM where we took them to ATL. That suggests we were not doing well with the 350 on the JNB route. Took several delays to get all the bags loaded out of AMS.

If only we had an aircraft capable of that route! Sadly that’s impossible since if there was a better way we would already have thought of it. On a related note I hear Air India’s new blue and red seats have been getting rave reviews.

Implying a new type??

Moving JNB/CPT to JFK would save a few hundred miles. That’s what SAA and UA (EWR) used.

You forgot the word used. Used Boeings. Anyone actually think we will see the Max10?

​​​​​​Maybe not the 10 but supposedly they are going to install Max sims.

ATL looks better on paper because of the connecting volume. The airline runs on numbers first and operation second or third.

Why would we not? By 2025 the oldest 320 will be ready for a long nap. Perfect domestic replacement.

Because it's still not certified. The max 9 is plan B.

This is absolutely ridiculous. JNB is or was rumored to be one of our most profitable routes. I cant see our best pax sticking with us over United on this route if we put them through something like that on a regular basis.

It isn’t certified yet, correct, but it will be. It was granted the exemption it needed.

More recent whispers that perhaps the underdog, BA, may be the recipient of a Delta WB order in the variety of 2 variants of the same plane.

this would be very interesting after leadership stated in a town hall we’ll be an “all Airbus WB fleet”

All boils down to the deal.. either way.

Once upon a time we were supposed to be an all Boeing airline. Things change.

Very interesting. I assume that means 787 and not 777x. Whether it’s Boeing or Airbus more WB are always good. Maybe this will be the long awaited order that replaces the 767 with a plane that pays WB rates.

Possibly. It's ultimately management's decision though. It's kind of funny that e'rrybody is so upset about it. The way I see it, if I have a JNB trip that diverts to SJU, I am gonna make mo' money.

I mean heck yeah I want management to make great decisions and have the right equipment for the right route. But after having heard Mr Anderson talk several times about the 777, it was not the airplane for DAL for anything other than JNB and SYD. IOW, I am not sure DAL can justify a small expensive fleet for two destinations. But that's up to them. I'll hit the pitches thrown over the plate and not worry about the count. Maybe the 787 is the answer as it is also a potential ER replacement. But Boeing is as ****ed up as a football bat, so I would bet they will have to make an amazing deal to get DAL on board with it.

jmho, ymmv

Nothing like a dorked up fleet of bits and pieces. 787 is a guarantee then!

I do realize that Im a pilot, not a network planner. But there is a direct correlation between our ability to properly and profitably service a route and the number of top paying wide body aircraft and associated positions required to staff them.

we sure have a lot of angst over a route that may not exist for long.

We were once told at a town hall that the survival of the airline depended on getting down to 3 fleet types. In the next 7 years we bought 717’s, A220’s, A321’s and A350’s.

Yep, that pivot was spectacular. Overnight we went from "Fleet Simplicity" as our mantra to "Fleet Versatility." But it served managements agenda in that it was used to help push the Delta-Northwest merger.

Scoop

Then again, if this is an eventual 767 replacement, you’re replacing two cockpits with one, so they can still claim streamlining. Heck throw the 332/333 in after 2030 and you can claim it’s removing two further sub variants with different engines.

Out of all the airliners built, since well, forever, I think the A340 and A380 are the only ones we haven't operated. (well, not the Sukhoi Superjet either)

https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits...ft-by-type/jet
https://www.deltamuseum.org/exhibits...type/propeller

gotta throw the 787 on that list.

I figured since we were talking about 787 that was a given, but we haven't flown that yet.

As much bellyaching as there is about us not flying the 787 I figured it was still worth the mention :D

Just wait for the "it's not a widebody!" crowd!b

Concorde, Comet, Caravelle, Convair 240, Convair 580, Boeing 307, Boeing 314, Boeing 377, the whole Ilyushin line, De Haviland line, Tupolev line, Avro Tudor... okay I'll stop... but you did say "forever" :p

Will it pay $10 an hour more than the 737? You know, pay-banded with the narrow bodies.