Delta Air Lines yesterday announced that its final Boeing 777 flight to Japan is taking place today. The aircraft will return from Haneda to Los Angeles on Friday. Saturday will see the last two domestic flights before Delta retires its entire 777 fleet.
Final Delta 777 flights to and from Japan are cargo-only
On October 28, Delta Air Lines posted on its news hub the details of its final 777 flights to and from Japan before the aircraft’s retirement. The cargo-only service operating as flight DL3455 will depart Atlanta on Wednesday, October 28, at 09:00, arriving in Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, Japan, on Thursday, October 29, at 12:40. The return flight, DL3456, departs Haneda on Friday, October 30, arriving in Los Angeles at 06:00.
With the coronavirus pandemic causing a decline in passenger demand for international air travel, the 777 has mostly been used for cargo, mail, and American citizens’ repatriation to their home countries. Since April, the aircraft has flown many round trips between the US and Asia to carry thousands of tons of personal protective equipment to protect healthcare professional and frontline workers.
The 777 has also operated to long-haul destinations such as Manila, Mumbai, and Sydney. On most of the long-haul routes, the 777 will be replaced by the Airbus A350, which burns 21% less fuel per seat.
Delta is the largest US carrier serving Haneda
This year, Delta became the largest US airline to serve Tokyo Haneda when it moved flights from Narita to Haneda. The airline planned to operate seven daily flights between Haneda and Atlanta, Detroit, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle, and Portland, Oregon. Haneda is Tokyo’s nearest and most convenient airport.
Delta’s 777s make their final flights this week
Earlier this month, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced its plans for the two final flights of its 777 aircraft. On October 30, the plane’s penultimate flight will depart from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport with flight number DL8787.
The last flight on October 31, operating under flight number DL8807, will depart John F. Kennedy International Airport heading for Los Angeles.
Early retirement for Delta Air Lines aircraft
As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, Delta announced in May that it planned to retire all of its 18-strong Boeing 777 fleet by the end of 2020. The retirements had been planned for the near future, but the pandemic caused the airline to accelerate its strategy to simplify and update its fleet and operate newer and more efficient aircraft.
Delta’s first 777-200s joined the fleet in 1999, since when it grew to 18 aircraft, including 10 of the long-range version, which were added in 2008. At that time, it was the only aircraft that could fly direct between Atlanta and Johannesburg, Los Angeles to Sydney, and other far off long-haul destinations.
In June, Delta retired its fleet of MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft, which had once made up a significant part of the airline. This year, the airline has also retired seven 767-300ERs, 10 Airbus A320s, and 10 Boeing 737-700s. By 2025, Delta is expected to have retired 385 aircraft as it moves towards a more streamlined fleet.
What do you think of Delta’s streamlining plans?