EF77

Additionally, this is what happens when you order new aircraft, ala the 787 that is tailor made for these Pacific crossings to these secondary Chinese cities you mention above. The good old 20+ year old 767 just can't do it.

As well UA/AA tied up their dates to the Japan dance long ago, ANA/JAL. Ever since DL has been that awkward 5th wheel.

cornbeef007

It's really a bit sad....Delta has never been an Asia player. They certinaly were not before the merger or even after, when it was handed to us on a platter.

We are becoming a boutique international airline, no different then Alaska. They just beat us to the business model.

Typhoonpilot

I'll concede that United has made some smart moves in the Pacific with their 787s, but on the other hand how much was taken away from their Narita hub over the last few years? Also, how much international expansion has been seen in South America since the tie up with Azul?

You can't realistically argue that has those markets (U.S. to Asia and U.S. to South America) have been significantly affected by the ME3.

Varsity

They don't have a choice. The US3 legacy cost base is too high to compete on a lot of international routes, especially at foreign point of sale.

Half a million/year airline captains works when everyone in the back is paying 4 digits+. Now you can go RT trans atlantic on most euro LCC's for less than half that. Inflation adjusted, a mere fraction.

The US3 can either give the routes to their lower cost foreign partners or lose them to some other foreign airline that they have absolutely no relation with.

badflaps

They will be low cost till the competition is gone.

crewman

In the 2016 Skytrax airline ratings none of the US major carriers made it in to the top 20. Being a fright dog my company buys a great many businesses class tickets for me, however I will request to fly on EVA vs DL or UAL out of Taipei purely because the service is far superior.

The same is tru I take JAL or ANA out of NRT, again the service is superior and I get airline miles. UAL flew the whale out of NRT till recently, no personal entertainment in economy......

The asian customer has high standards and frankly the big 3 carriers has a lot to learn when it comes to customer service. 2 weeks ago I experienced a delay of more than 4 hours in ORD... no refreshments..no nothing! Compared to Korean out of ICN ... a month or so ago lots of food and drinks...and a shopping voucher for shopping onboard..... just my 2 cents

Typhoonpilot

United had the 787 on TPE briefly. That was nice, but I agree their old B777 layout sucks.

C130driver

It is important to note that many of these Asian companies can be amazing at customer service (and they really are, wow, I miss Asia..) because they aren't restricted to stringent labor laws like in America.

For instance, ANA Japan had waist standards for its flight attendants (I haven't met an ugly ANA flight attendant.). Can you imagine something like that flying in America without MSNBC or VOX chiming in concurrently with legal suits? Not arguing one method or another, I like some of the labor laws in the states (compare our salaries to Asian carriers,) just pointing out a huge reason for difference in customer service.

Typhoonpilot

Here is some really good news I am sure there will be lots of additional growth for DAL ALPA pilots as a result of this. But please remember that Norwegian and the ME3 are the chosen boogey men



Delta and Korean Air sign joint venture pact

23 June, 2017
| SOURCE: Flightglobal Pro
| BY: Edward Russell
| Los Angeles


Delta Air Lines and Korean Air have signed a much-anticipated joint venture agreement, beginning the process of coordinating services across the Pacific.

The agreement will allow the SkyTeam members to coordinate schedules and pricing, jointly sell and market flights, and share revenues and costs between South Korea and the USA.

"Today's relationship will allow our two companies to fully integrate from a customer standpoint," says Ed Bastian, chief executive of Delta, at a signing ceremony in Los Angeles today.


Delta passengers will have access to 80 destinations in Asia beyond Korean Air's Seoul Incheon hub under the partnership, he says.

China, however, will not be included in the joint venture, says Bastian. He adds that it does not impact Delta's relationship with China Eastern Airlines.

"The synergies will be good for our customers, our companies and our countries," says YH Cho, chairman of Korean Air, at the event.

Korean Air will benefit from expanded access to the US market on Delta under the agreement, he says.

The accord will allow Delta and Korean Air to more effectively compete with the immunised partnerships between American Airlines and Japan Airlines, and United Airlines and All Nippon Airways. Without partners on either side of the Pacific, both SkyTeam carriers lack the feed that their competitors have access to through their respective joint ventures.

Expansion may be in the cards for Delta and Korean Air down the road. Delta could add new service to Seoul Incheon in the future, however, this would likely occur once the immunised partnership is implemented, says Bastian.

Delta serves Seoul from Atlanta, which began earlier this month, as well as from Detroit and Seattle Tacoma.

Cho declines to comment on whether Korean Air plans to expand service to North America.

Korean Air serves 13 cities in North America, including Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York John F Kennedy all of which are Delta hubs.

The Delta-Korean Air joint venture is subject to regulatory approval in both South Korea and the USA. While the airlines have antitrust immunity in the USA, they need to update the approval with US regulators, says Bastian.

The carriers are "very optimistic" that the South Korean government will approve the accord, says Walter Cho, chief operating officer of Korean Air, at the event.

Both Delta and Korean Air decline to comment on a timeline for the joint venture.

The airlines have been working towards an agreement for some time. They signed a memorandum of understanding towards forming a joint venture in March, which followed an expanded codeshare agreement in 2016.

Delta and Korean Air have been partners for more than 20 years.

mainlineAF

Cool. I prefer to use DHL and can't wait for amazon to have their own shipping service.