Originally Posted by iaflyer

Senior mgmt said at the pilot meeting that two of our Africa trips are in the top-five most profitable trips in the *company*.

Some people may not want to fly to Africa, and that's fine, but they are very very profitable trips.

Originally Posted by johnso29

That's awesome. Let's do more flights to Africa.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

No from the mouth of our CPO as well as other higher ops management. These jets are growth airplanes.
C checks are not that expensive. They are normally accomplished on a cycle and not all at once. It is the D checks that are major money drains. These are the ones where they take the skin off, etc.
As for the 9's most of ones that may be parked will be replaced with other ones that are in storage in the desert. Until fuel goes up those bad boys will be flying. Now, as we get to 2012 and 2013 that will change. The Nav requirements past that date make it very expensive to operate the 9. It is a major mod with IRU's and or GPS. As we all know it can be done, but the conventional thinking is that it will be to costly. I am sure that depending on the economy that may change, but right now we are looking at four years tops on the 9 fleet.
I specifically asked if these 90's were going to be brought in and traded 1 for 1. I was enthusiastically told no, they are growth airplanes and as of now there are no plans to park 88's and 9's as they come on line. Also, the 767/757's that are getting their tans in VCV are slated to be returning to the fleet next year.

This is all info that is less than a week or two old.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

You will get your wish. As soon as this economy turns just a little more, you will see DAL jets all over that continent.

Originally Posted by BigGuns

Did Gen Bulletin 9-13 dated 31MAR09 just really that ALL DELTA PILOTS have to get a Yellow Fever Vaccination, unless you have a Delta approved wavier?

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

Maybe we can send all of those RJ's over to Africa and let them do the connection flying down there. Now that would be nice.

Originally Posted by acl65pilot

Now, as we get to 2012 and 2013 that will change. The Nav requirements past that date make it very expensive to operate the 9. It is a major mod with IRU's and or GPS.