After just two decades of service, Delta Air Lines has officially retired the entirety of its Boeing 777 fleet, as it continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
The last Delta 777 commercial flight took place on Saturday, when flight DL8777 flew New York to Los Angeles.
The Boeing 777-200, registration N701DN, departed New York’s John F. Kennedy International airport just before 1:15pm local time, before travelling across the continent, to land at Los Angeles International just over five hours and 20 minutes later.
The flight itself reportedly included special announcements and onboard treats for customers and aviation enthusiasts who chose to be a part of the era-ending flight.
Spots were limited, however, as Delta continues its policy of blocking middle seats during the pandemic, to keep customers safe and comfortable.
Thank You to @Delta, @ATLairport and @flyLAXairport for the incredible opportunity to be a part of a retirement flight! We had the BEST time in the world that will live with me the rest of my life! #DL8777 #N703DN #AVGeek #Aviation #DeltaProud pic.twitter.com/vsFStjqNyg
— #AVGeek SkzDaLimit ✈️ (@skzdalimit) November 1, 2020
The retirement of Delta’s 777 fleet is the highest-profile retirement accelerated by the pandemic, with the airline recently announcing its intentions to retire more than 380 aircraft over the next five years, 200 of which will take place within the next 12 months.
Delta chief customer experience officer Bill Lentsch said that the retiring of the 777 fleet, in addition to other measures to simplify the airline’s fleet, would both cut costs and improve the overall customer experience.
He noted that simplifying the fleet would not only cut costs in crew training, but also when acquiring spare parts and ongoing maintenance.
The decision to retire its once long-haul workhorse was clearly not previously anticipated, with Delta recently injecting $100 million into retrofitting its 18 Boeing 777s with new and improved first-class cabins, which included lay-flat seating, additional personal storage, and a new 1-2-1 configuration.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the decision to retire the “iconic” 777 was not an easy one.
“I know it has a direct impact on many of you who fly, crew and service these jets,” he said in a memo.
“The 777 played an important role with Delta since 1999, allowing us to open new long-haul markets and grow our international network as we transformed into a global airline. I’ve flown on that plane often and I love the customer experience it has delivered over the years.”
The airline confirmed it will now shift focus to the more fuel-efficient Airbus A350 to cover its ultra-long-haul routes previously covered with its 777s, however the new aircraft type will see return services between Atlanta and South Africa impacted.
According to Delta: “Our South Africa service will follow a new circular routing that goes from Atlanta – Johannesburg – Cape Town – Atlanta. The stop will allow for refuelling at sea level before beginning the 8,130-mile trip back to the US, and it will add a new city to Delta’s global footprint.”
