One would hope, but keep this in mind. DAL has defined parameters on who a Delta Customer is. If a route does not meet these qualifications, the route is optimized. (Use the FL market in general. It is overall a leisure market, and one DAL will not fight tooth and nail to be number one in. We will serve it, but not with a glut of seats)

A320 winglets on the way
By Scott Hamilton

Airbus will announce "within weeks" its decision to proceed with winglet programme for the Airbus A320 family.

A senior company official told CAO that a final decision whether to go forward with an Aviation Partners blended winglet design or one called sharklets designed by Airbus hasn't been made.

Sharklets are a different shape than winglets but Airbus has not released any images.

"We're going to do the programme," the official tells CAO. The question outstanding is which design. Entry into service dates and production issues depend on which design is selected.

Fuel burn will be reduced by 2%-4%, depending on which design is chosen.

The Airbus A321 will be the first family member to receive the upgrade, increasing the US transcontinental range to be more competitive with the Boeing 737-900 and to target the Boeing 757 fleet, a prevalent aircraft in the US legacy carrier operation. American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United airlines all have large 757 fleets.

Continental's fleet is relatively young while the other carriers have aging fleets. United has an RFP for fleet replacement, including the 757s, and it currently operates a large A319/A320 fleet. UAL is to decide by year end whether to proceed with equipment selection.
http://www.flightglobal.com/assets/g...x?ItemID=13451

I understand their thinking, but we should never exclude any customer. We can focus down to the point that we become NetJets.

I'm not sure I would not want to wait. AirBus is flying around the Pratt Pure Power 1000 (geared turbofan) things and aiming for a quick Certification on the A320 series jets.

If news reports are true, that would make the A320 ~15 to 17% more efficient and apparently the GTF design just will not fit under a 737 wing.

So I hear, the GTF is just too big for the 73N. It does not have the ground clearance. Now maybe we could hang one of those of the 757 wing??! :)

I think that the winglets are a mod. Not sure if the GRF on the 320 would be a new jet or not.

I agree with that, but the point is we are not going to saturate a market to the point we need to sell seats for 69 bucks each way just to fill the jets.


We still do a fair share of leisure business, it just seems that we are not going to target that customer as we have in the past.

Thanks. My only experience with the 20 minutes was through EWR (as NW 791/792) and through AMS. One of the AMS supervisors, or a station manager, explained to us NW policy was to be buttoned up 20 prior. I took it at face value, but obviously I don't have as much experience.

I suppose I don't care how it's done, if I getting paid, and as a secondary consideration, if they do it well. Did I mention it's important I'm getting paid?

Sorry Denny, I dont' have a copy. It's posted at JFK. I understand CPO's received their own copies, so yours should have it also. I also understand this change has not been well received in the lounges...

Also, JFK pilots were told crewmembers in uniform would be accomodated as much as possible.

Sorry I don't have better info.

That's how it was presented. The problem is that a lot of commuters might be performing post-flight duties, or in Customs, when they hit the lock-out time.


Evidently, some agents know how to activate people from Europe, and some do not. Something to consider before departing on your last leg...

Good luck.

I did not know that you could be activated more than four hours prior to departure.