Long Retired: Where Delta Air Lines’ 18 Boeing 777s Are Now

Delta Air Lines acquired the Boeing 777 partly to replace its L-1011 Tristars. The carrier only had 18 777s. Some 10 of these were the Long-Range variant-which has always been unpopular with airlines. Meanwhile, the remaining eight were the Extended Range variant.
Despite being refurbished in 2018, which included Delta One business class seats, the pandemic accelerated the retirement of the Triple 7 from the airline’s fleet. This helped with overall modernization, greater simplicity, and better fuel consumption. Still, the type was with Delta for 21 years. So where are these jets now?
Article: simpleflying.c...
Our Social Media:
/ simpleflyingnews
/ simple_flying
/ simpleflyingnews
Our Website
simpleflying.com/
For copyright matters please contact us at: [e-mail]

[@ahmadzahid266]

retiring delta's 777 was kind a shock because dalte it's been retrofitted with new seats less than two years before retirement, luckily the big winner in this situation is air india, getting new 777 with updated seats makeing flight experience to US much better than other air India's 777 with old seats, broken IFE and never retrofitted since delivered to air india.

[@Trickyx786]

All those will go in retrofit next year

[@aronbregman6753]

being based in Atl, I primarily Fly delta and have never had a bad experience. Having flown on all the types they fly, I prefer airbus but LOVE the 767.

[@Parr4]

This was interesting to see where these birds ended up. I flew on them several times ,but the ones that stood out was the privilege to fly on the Delta Spirit ship N701DN once from PVG-LAX and flew on ship N703DN on its retirement flight from ATL-LAX. I loved them but can see why it made financial sense for Delta to retire them.

[@Mercy_Pants]

I was sad to see them go but after flying on their a350-900 and a330neo which replaced the 777 routes, my sadness quickly faded. The Airbus aircraft are absolutely incredible!

[@rajnirvan3336]

Delta have also ordered A350-1000. Which is great

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

the airbus aircraft are unincredible compared to th triple seven

[@10Razzle88]

Delta probably thought travel wouldn’t return as quickly as it did, and retiring the type seemed like the right thing to do. The ER’s were older and could be replaced by the A359 and A339 quite easily. The LR is the one I think they would regret retiring, as they don’t have a 1-1 replacement for them. They lost the ultra long range capability and now have to make stops on routes like JNB-ATL because the 359 can’t make it.

[@NicotineRosberg]

Nonsense. They fly payload optimized nonstop with the 359.

[@10Razzle88]

@@NicotineRosberg it’s not payload optimization it’s restriction. Delta can’t fly the route the same as they did with the 777. The 777 was unrestricted. The only option to fly unrestricted with the 359 was to stop in Cape Town before returning to Atlanta. They did that until the South African government said they couldn’t. So it’s not nonsense when you literally prove my point that the 777 was the better aircraft for the route.

[@NicotineRosberg]

@@10Razzle88 I am not saying the 777 isn’t better but again I am not asking but telling u that route is payload optimized most of the times. I am with the airline. Also u said they have make to stop, hence I said nonsense. Because it IS nonsense as that’s not true

[@10Razzle88]

@@NicotineRosberg the term optimized is an airlines way of saying we are cutting passengers and/or cargo and don’t want it to sound negative. I understand that they are cutting to make the flight. It’s the same principle used when BA utilized an A318 JFK-LHR. You can “optimize” anything, but that doesn’t mean it’s ideal or that it doesn’t expose an error that delta made with their fleet lineup.

[@NicotineRosberg]

@@10Razzle88 the cargo for the most part will stay but yes at the detriment of passengers, especially non revs

[@BoeingFaEighteenhornet]

Very informative information

[@stephenfienberg8765]

Delta was using the -200LR for their ATL-JNB route until the pandemic. I believe that was their longest route for the type.

[@giestron336]

Yep

[@JDashRider]

Yes, I was scheduled to fly that route 2 days before the world shut down in 2020. I had booked first class on that trip and then spent the next 3 months trying to get a refund from Delta. When we rebooked in 2022, it was the A350-900 we flew and I could no longer afford first class as it was close to double the price a mere 2 years later. Still have yet to fly on a 777.

[@charlesdeilke8364]

ATL-JNB is a long miserable flight even in the A350 900. Seating is way too dense in coach and they bitch if you parcor out of your seat to stretch your legs.Seats were horribly uncomfortable.

[@okay_then3337]

And now they struggle with that route because the a350 can’t make the full trip with a full payload on hot days.

[@stephenfienberg8765]

@@okay_then3337 they do the triangle routing at some times of the year with a quick hop to CPT where you can always do a heavy take off for a 15 hour flight. United seems to be managing just with their EWR to both CPT and JNB. The B787-9 seems to handle the altitude of JNB better with heavy take offs. They use the B777-200ER for their heavy CPT take-offs. JNB's lower MTOW restrictions is the reason SAA did non-stop flights to JFK but one stop in Dakar or Accra to IAD for their outbound leg. The A340-600 had a high enough MTOW for to make it to the east coast but the -300 they used for the IAD route didn't. Going back to the B747 days, Sal Island in Cabo Verde was their fuelling stop for the outbound flights to the East Coast.

[@chandrachurniyogi8394]

the B777-200 LR is one of the few options full service carriers have when operating extra long haul routes . . . for e.g. Hyderabad (HYD) - New York (JFK) & Sydney (SYD) - London (LHR) non-stop . . . the only other airframe that can fly this far is the A350-900 ULR successor to the A340-500 HGW . . .

[@PHX787]

Flew on em all the time back and forth between the US and Japan. Getting used to the A350 now.

[@hughofIreland]

I had one of my best night’s sleep on a 200LR from LAX to SYD. It was on the second day that the route was operated.

[@FastGuy1]

really wow

[@GarlandTexasSpotter2024]

I still find DL’s 777’s to be more comfortable than the A350-900’s in my opinion. The seats have an extra 1 inch of seat width which means you’ll have a slightly wider seat and more pitch.

[@nntflow7058]

If they have kept their B777, they would probably fitted them with 10-abreast seating by now.

[@MrViroplen]

Lol thats just raig bait the a350 is overall concidered much quiter and comfortable

[@unknownperson3691]

@@nntflow7058did you miss the part where the video mentioned that it was updated in 2018? Delta, along with Singapore and Cathay are some of the last holdouts and have avoided 3-4-3 configs while Saudia still does so on their long haul configured jets. Air India also should theoretically count but half the fleet is falling apart and they also have some leased from etihad.

[@devanarayananj1291]

​@@MrViroplenit always depends on the seat Delta seats on a350 could be inferior to that on 777s

[@rajnirvan3336]

Initially was shocked at their decision. Thought keep LRs little longer. But now made a decent decision upon ordering A350-1000 to their fleet

[@Sithvulcan76]

For those who don't know. The 777-200LR is essentially 777F with windows minus the reinforced cargo floor. Same engines and landing gear.

[@MrSchwabentier]

Kind of the other way round because the LR came first

[@SpeedNAngels431]

The 777F is a -200 body with -300 wings…ask me how I know (b777 type rated)

[@MrSchwabentier]

@@SpeedNAngels431 the wings on the 777-300ER and 200LR are the same anyways. That’s no speciality of the F

[@SpeedNAngels431]

@@MrSchwabentier 300 and 200LR yes, but the original 200 had a smaller wingspan and less of a raised wingtip.

[@andrewsavage6738]

The 777 is remarkable plane. The A350 is even better. Way to go Delta.

[@ShujaatRahman-je9lv]

Honestly they did not deserve this. Instead they should have in my opinion retired the early 777-200ERs then faze them out by 2020. The 200LRs were too young they should've referbished them with state of the art seats and cabin designs. Then at least use them till 2028 or 2030. Sad too see them go😢

[@rajnirvan3336]

I agree should have kept LR for a bit.

[@shinyamichimi114]

AFAIK, only 1 is left in Marana (Pinal Air Park). I fly into there often and have only ever seen one Delta 777 there

[@basant64hangal]

Air India uses it on BLR-SFO, the longest economy flight by scheduled time. It's a relief because of how bad the rest of their 777 fleet is like on the inside, and luckily is still 3-3-3.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

ive actually never been on a 343 777.only 333.with saudia

[@ericjones7769]

Always thought that the triple 7s fit Delta's fleet picture perfect,hated when Delta retired them 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@chaoszombie9995]

I mean.. they are nearing 30 years old.. the LR 16, I’m just glad they found new operators!

[@planesandcooking5142]

Ok, they were purchased to replace the MD-11. Not the L-1011.

[@juniorcampbell2980]

Interesting that Delta ditched it 777-200LRs. Air Canada still uses the on YYZ/BOM and YYZ/YVR/SYD routes. I wonder if AC will follow Delta and replace the 220-LR with the A350-900, although AC has committed to being a Boeing only long haul carrier. The 777-X does not seem to make sense for AC

[@ronparrish6666]

And Air Canada is one of the few airlines that put over 400 seats in their 777 very cramped going from Toronto to Japan

[@roberthowell7095]

No need for AC to acquire the 777X. It already can seat 450 on most of its 777-300ER's. If it had the 777X, it would cram over 500 passengers on it.

[@leng3001]

@@roberthowell7095No THE MOST LIKELY SUCCESSOR TO THE 777-300ERS FOR AIR CANADA WOULD BE THE 777X LOOK THAT PLANE IS NEW SO they prob will order it THERES NO VIDS OF THEM REJECTING IT OR ON GOOGLE

[@NYCLight]

Delta Airlines is in business to make money. And they are a very talented and professional outfit to do just that, with efficiency and sensibilities in the airline (and credit card) business. All the power to this group!

[@tonyferdaise5292]

DL made a huge mistake the A359 doesn’t have the legs to take off with paxs on the JBN to ATL it goes out on a weight restriction. Didn’t happen with the 777-200LRs

[@MrSchwabentier]

They have the -1000 on order, that issue is gone then

[@crew-dog2668]

Can you explain why the 359 doesn’t have the legs? Thanks.

[@okay_then3337]

⁠​⁠@@crew-dog2668Johannesburg is a high elevation airport so on hot days, the performance of aircraft taking off from there is affected. The a350- 900 barely makes that trip so on hot days it would have to stop somewhere to refuel or carry a smaller payload. The 777- 200lr could make that trip even on such days.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

@@okay_then3337 because the 777 is super overpowered!

[@radudeATL]

I didn’t realize Delta retired the 777.

[@unknownperson3691]

And now they’re getting the 350-1000s which are slightly larger. Why? Edit: Delta also used to fly ATL-BOM for a few months in ‘08 which was their longest route.

[@thirstofficer2332]

Why is one of their 772s registration ending with DK instead of DN?

[@EpicThe112]

Interesting video indeed I can probably see if they ended up keeping them into service they might be able to do this old Northwest Airlines route if restored DTW-MNL/NMIA non-stop over flying Tokyo from Detroit feeder flights on Newark Terminal A A220/B717 basically inheriting the Northwest Airlines practice of DC-9s

[@germb747]

No, Delta should have kept the 777s and ordered more along with 787s too. Why do the Arizona Cardinals need all of those 777s?

[@MrViroplen]

787 and 777 are both awfully jets stop spamming bowing fan

[@malvinuku7878]

How about a video on Malaysian 777s

[@jeffreybaba4155]

I believe since they just refurbished the planes they should have used them longer.

[@tommytube268]

777 is an awesome reliable aircraft and buying and then storing it in a desert seems wasteful

[@eaaaaaaaaaaaaaa5]

Guess, Delta now has something better.

[@user-yt198]

260 units of 777 were taken out of service in the world between 2019 and 2023. There are more efficient replacements now.

[@mcdonnellsinc]

Delta sold each aircraft. they are stored in the desert for preservation by the new owners. the airline needed cash during the pandemic. keeping a fleet of long-range aircraft you can't fly internationally is far more wasteful.

[@tommytube268]

@@mcdonnellsinc Retired from fleet is the same as sold? Pandemic is over and millions of dollars of quality aircraft stored in desert is most definitely wasteful.

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

@@eaaaaaaaaaaaaaa5 delta replaced their 777 with eggshells

[@joshuadominictoling5310]

Are they gonna order back the Boeing 777-200LR Fleet?

[@zokeaye]

Most of the LR fleet is gone unfortunately. Definitely a mistake to retire the type, but the future couldn't be predicted. Probably would never happen, but it would be nice to see Delta get someLR's once other airlines no longer fly them (Emirates, Qatar, Air India, etc.), and maybe even get some used -300ER's from other airlines (since DL is known for taking in older, second-hand aircraft). An optimist's thought though, unfortunately.

[@maxlewandowski841]

Yes definitely the. A350 does a great Job

[@Flegz1]

Is Delta planning to get the Boeing 777X? Or they don't think about getting it?

[@MrSchwabentier]

They haven’t had something beyond the 777-200 capacity for a while now. 777X would be a big increase compared to that

[@johnl5821]

I love this! My last 777 flight with Delta was returning from HND in 2/20. I was sorry to see them go, but it rattled all the way home despite my snappy DeltaOne suite. A350 and 900neo are WAY more comfortable for many reasons. Surprisingly, 900neo now has the widest business class seats in their fleet. The Delta 900neo is my favorite for long haul and A220 for shorter flights. Flying a 767-400 to MUC on Monday and can't wait! 😊 Thank you for your excellent av-geek content!

[@stevecharlesworth2662]

They should have retired 767-400 first. Flying LHR-ATL in January. I prefer the A350s, to be honest

[@Andygarrett357]

-400's are battleships that they wish they had more of and will be around for years to come as they are so versatile on on medium to long haul, and have been used on short haul high density ATL to MCO.

[@marksman875437]

Retired too soon

[@marksman875437]

I work for air Canada and our 200 variant is still one of our Reliable workhouses on long haul routes from YYZ or YVR

[@RetiredPlum.]

Why not simply just say Some to India Others to frieghters Yawn video...

[@timbaugh4034]

Delta should have kept the 777s in the fleet.

[@phuketexplorer]

I'm surprised they weren't stolen by Russian carriers!

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

WORST decision EVER.atleast if they wanted to replace them get a 777x,not a unworthy eggshellbus 350.long live the 777!long live boeing CA!!!!!!

[@Smirth669]

Big mistake by Delta

[@dewyakana1543]

Yup, glad to see it gone. Love the Airbus A350 900. Never going on another Boeing. 😊

[@MarkUKInsects]

777 was of its time. But there are better planes now

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

what ?????? 1.i am 2.the 777 is a strong plane and has saved multiple lives 3.the a350 is so weak and its engines shut down when you pour coffee on them

[@giestron336]

​ I'm pretty sure the same thing would happen with you pour caffe on the 777 @AbdullahNajib

[@dewyakana1543]

@@giestron336 WHAT?

[@AbdullahNajib-b9z]

@@giestron336 no it wouldnt.2 cases with 350 and only a few planes.loads of 777,loads of potential for 777 coffeee spill,yet its not on the news.and in a world where everyone loves airbus,it would have been reported