DL rumored to acquire used A340-600s

[LD3]

If report came ut that AA was snapping up 340's WT would be all over it, wrong a/c, can't make money with it, AA doesn't know what it's doing...But DL, it's a different story...

 

[WorldTraveler]

It depends on what the purpose was... I have actually suggested several times that AA would benefit from acquiring some used aircraft but that is not AA's style of working.

I just said it about the 77L which could allow AA to start JNB, a route that I have repeatedly said MIA is ideally located to serving.

Problem is that the 77L is the only aircraft that has been shown to be able to operate year round nonstop without restrictions to and from JNB-N. America. DL has the aircraft and is flying the route. Neither AA or UA have it.

Specific to this discussion, what so many people cannot understand is that the metric is not whether the plane will be a 15-20 year metric which is the standard that any airline has to make if they are buying new but whether the 346s can be profitably used for as little as 5-7 years in the fleet. Given that the 346 can easily be used to providing upgrades of some existing 77E/77L routes, allowing the 777s to be redeployed to new routes and THEN used to replace 744s, which DL knows are ending the end of their lives within the next few years.

The 346 burns significantly less fuel than the 744 and is only a bit smaller in total seating size than the 744, but given that DL has already said that it wants to regauge its NRT hub, the 346 could be coming along at just the right time to allow DL to pull the 744s from NRT while adding new capacity to China, where DL said it is seeing very positive results (and where DL now has the highest average fares from the US to PVG, a title held by UA for years).

Airbus keeps the 340 flying for a few more years instead of parking them while Rolls-Royce gets a little bit more of DL's business, important since DL now has Rolls or Rolls related engines on perhaps more of its fleet than any other airline in the Americas thanks to the 717 and M90 deals on top of the handful of 777ERs. With an RFP for a number of widebodies outstanding, Rolls could use any advantage in that deal they can get.

If AA came up with the same justifications, it could be equally as compelling.

 

[BABABOOY]

Same chance as Delta bringing back the L1011's....
I highly doubt it.   At least no acquisition cost with them ;-)

 

[metopower]

As with all rumors there has to to be some tangible reasoning behind it. The only two are 1) similar type ratings. But offset by contractual bid system = no direct cost savings ..except for simulators and training costs.Would pay the same as 777/744. 2) to REPLACE the 744. That would make some sence . Low acquisition cost similar load capability with some sacrifices but burns much less fuel vs the 744. 744 has limited time left on the airframe because of the overhaul issues.Those airframes from VA are pretty low time .If the mission was the same as the 744 and not the 77LR then it makes sense. But it is all in the follow up deal. They are owned by Airbus and who knows what kind of deals they could make. Personally I don't like it but that is the reason I'm not running the company. My take is if R.A. And this management team thinks it is a good idea then I'm all for it. My bet is on a mix of 787/A350 and not the 777-300er with more 330's.

 

[700UW]

Virgin has been flying the A343 since 1998 and the A346 since 2004 active aircraft that is and inactive A343 since 1997 and the A346 since 2002.
 
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Virgin%20Atlantic-active-a340.htm
 
http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Virgin%20Atlantic-stored-a340.htm

 

[WorldTraveler]

the rumor, even if it comes to pass, only involves the 346s.

the primary motivation and comparison appears to be related to the 744 and on the basis of a relatively short term use of the 346s.

the leak appears to be related to ALPA being asked to consider rates for the aircraft.

 

[700UW]

Seven of the current A346s are leased and not from Airbus.
 
Only five are showing owned by Virgin, not Airbus, according to Great Britain's Civil Aviation Authority's database.

 

[eolesen]

Who owns the lease doesn't matter if Airbus had a separate backstop agreement with Virgin.

If DL winds up paying 777/744 rates on a lower density aircraft with high fuel burn, this makes less and less sense to me.

 

[WorldTraveler]

the 346 burns considerably less fuel than a 744 and seats probably 25-40 passengers less.

 

[Kev3188]

I agree with Meto that the (more or less) commonality with the A330 is a plus, but OTOH, looking to pay 747/777 book rates might dampen things a bit. Adding a sub fleet may also be more trouble than it's worth, even factoring in potential fuel savings.

This is all fun, of course, but let's remember we're still basing this discussion on a rumor emanating from an "unnamed source."

 

[robbedagain]

can the 346 fly further than the 744    

 

[eolesen]

Range is slightly more - 8600 vs. 8900. Probably not an appreciable difference for DL's network.

Crew costs would be the same, revenue would be the same, fuel might be less, but so is payload.

 

[WorldTraveler]

the reduction in fuel burn compared to a 744 is greater than the reduction in payload.

again, the interest, if any is that the acquisition costs are low enough to justify removing some of the 744s and perhaps some additional short-term capacity.

I don't think anyone seems them as a long-term solution but it might allow newer generation aircraft to prove themselves.

it also is a smaller aircraft which could assist DL's stated goals of regauging its Pacific network at Japan where yields for DL and other carriers say capacity needs to come out.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

the 346 burns considerably less fuel than a 744 and seats probably 25-40 passengers less.

 
If the purpose is to replace the 747-400, then I'd love for DL to replace the 744 with 747-8I.  But probably not going to happen ... ... ...

 

[700UW]

And DL just spent millions redoing all the 744s interiors.