Delta Airlines has announced plans to permanently remove Boeing 777 from its fleet by the end of 2020. The move seeks to reduce costs and preserve cash amid an unprecedented plunge in passenger traffic from the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Ed Bastian, Airbus’ A330 and A350-900 will perform the long-haul duties formerly performed by the Boeing 777, because they are more fuel-efficient and cost-effective.
Delta had 18 Boeing 777 aircraft in its fleet.
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According to a company statement, Delta is currently burning through $50 million in cash each day, and it forecasts a sharp drop in traffic, which necessitates a smaller network and aircraft fleet in the years ahead.
Furthermore, the airline is also in the process of retiring its MD-90 aircraft, which will exit the fleet effective June 2020.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global airline passenger volumes for the month of March fell to the lowest levels since 2006, with revenues down 52.9% from the same period last year. Cargo traffic was down 15% from the prior year, and is likely to fall between 14% and 31% for the whole of 2020,
Delta Airlines, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the major airlines of the United States. It operates over 5,400 flights daily and serves 325 destinations in 52 countries on six continents.
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