United States legacy carrier Delta said in a statement that they are planning to retire its widebody Boeing B777 fleet by the end of 2020. The US carrier has eighteen (18) B777 in its current inventory and the retirement of these equipment is primary a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aircraft fleet’s retirement will accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft.
“We’re making strategic, cost-effective changes to our fleet to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring Delta is well-positioned for the recovery on the backside of the crisis,” according to Gil West, Chief Operating Officer of Delta. “The B777 has been a reliable part of Delta’s success since it joined the fleet in 1999 and because of its unique operating characteristics, opened new non-stop, ultra-long-haul markets that only it could fly at that time.”
Last April, Delta announced plans to accelerate the retirement of the MD-88 and MD-90 fleets to June. Since the onset of the COVID-19 situation, Delta has reacted quickly by parking aircraft and considering early aircraft retirements to reduce operational complexity and cost. To date, the airline has parked more than 650 mainline and regional aircraft to adjust capacity to match reduced customer demand.
The Boeing B777-200 first entered the fleet in 1999 and grew to 18 aircraft, including 10 of the long-range B777-200LR variant, which arrived in 2008. At the time, aircraft was uniquely positioned to fly non-stop between Atlanta and Johannesburg, South Africa, Los Angeles to Sydney, and other distant destinations.
Delta will continue flying its fleet of long-haul next-generation Airbus A350-900s, which burn 21% less fuel per seat than the B777s they will replace.
Despite a reduction in international passenger travel, the B777 fleet has been the workhorse of Delta’s cargo, mail, and U.S. citizen repatriation operations amid the pandemic. Since late April, the widebody jet has flown dozens of trips from Chicago and Los Angeles to Frankfurt to deliver mail to U.S. military troops abroad; operated between the U.S. and Asia to deliver thousands of pounds of critical, life-saving supplies to aid in the COVID-19 response; and carried thousands of U.S. citizens back to the U.S. from Sydney, Mumbai, Manila and other cities around the world.
More specific details of the timing of the 777’s exit from the fleet will be disclosed at a later date.