No Surprise: Delta Cancels Their 787 Order

Is there a good reference for why an airline would buy one type of plane vs. another? Choices like 737 vs. 777 are obvious, but what is the advantage of an older design like the A330-900NEO?

I have to say, from a passenger standpoint, I absolutely prefer the A359 over the B788. It feels wider and it's so much quieter than the B788.

How are they ever going to be a premiere airline if their business plan involves buying other people's crap? I guess this proves that this is not their goal.

Because once a plane's interior is refurbished, 95% of passengers will think the plane is brand new anyway.

As much as I wanted to see the 787 in Delta livery, the A350 will be nice. Actually, as long as it's a new aircraft and it replaces their ancient, dirty 767s, I don't care what it is!

In addition, I recall reading an article that Delta wanted these new planes for its longhaul routes as soon as possible so they can retire their 747s. Between the A350 and 787, Delta can get the A350s delivered sooner than the 787s.

im sure delta can pick up some surplus Douglas DC-3 for dirt cheap

@Joe--sometimes "old designs" refreshed are better. There is a reason the 737 has had its "old design" refreshed over and over and continues to be a top selling aircraft.

Sorry--meant that comment to be @Ben

Perhaps they are pushing Boeing for the long wished for 757 replacement, I could see them being a launch customer... A new 757 would surely have a similar capacity as the 787-8 but cheaper to operate on the many medium distance routes Delta operates.

16.8" seats in Y means the 787 family will never be popular with customers. McDonnell Boeing miscalculated on the cabin width and it's going to haunt the program for its entire life. Of course the airlines aren't going to embrace a 19" Y seat when the airframe manufacturer has left (surprise surprise!) JUST enough room for the seat manufacturers to shoehorn in 9-across. So you see, it isn't REALLY the "airline's choice" when the choice is basically made for them (and why they select the aircraft).

A359 is also 9-across, never played any silly games about pretending to configure as 8-across in the glossy mockup cabins - just made the cabin wide enough for 18" seats and an actually tolerable long haul coach experience. I live in Seattle, but I'll fly the 359 all day over the 788.

The A30) is definitely a more comfortable plane It is my own preference though. To me, this article is a piece of good news! Thanks for sharing!

I would prefer Delta buy jets built in America by American workers.

Looks like the 787-8 is going to die out sooner than expected.

Delta will reverse their decision after Trump post the new tweet.

Pity. Some of the best networking opportunities can be found on Boeing 787 flights.

With 800 aircraft in Delta's fleet it's probably a smart move to not introduce the 787 considering the merged NW aircraft. Delta flies the 747, 777, 767, 757, 737, 717, MD90, MD88, A319, A320, A321, A330, and the CRJ, Embraer regional jets. And soon they'll add the A350 and CS100.An exhausting list of varied aircraft even for a super carrier. That said, Delta is phasing out the 747, 757, 767, MD90, MD88. I think there's a chance they'll phase out the A319 when they get the CS100. My take is that Delta is trying to wind up with 737, A320, A321, A330, A350 and CS100 makeup along with smaller regional models. American, too, has a large fleet divided between Airbus and Boeing along with a mix of regional jet types. Eventually even for the big 3 U.S. carriers a wide mix of aircraft types will prove to be financially a bad gambit and which is already causing them to pare down aircraft makes and models.

Anything to boost value to shareholders .... hope the mechanics go over these used planes with a fine-toothed comb!

There is also significant internal resistance from the in-house MRO to adopting the 787.

The worst part of this news is 120 737-900ER's...The poor mans [bad] attempt at a 757 replacement...These are HANDS DOWN the most uncomfortable aircraft coming out on the market today...

I think dotproduct put it very politely. B787 is a maintenance nightmare and B788 is the worst. Both in-house engineering pioneers LH and DL avoiding it like plague. At least B789 has better economics. BA has it because it discarded (or) discarding in-house mx model and outsourcing to cheapest vendor. AI burnt badly by taking near teens. QR managing by bullying Boeing.

Good for DL.

I wish they kept NW's order for the A380's, but I realize that model wouldn't fit into DL's structure. Who knows, maybe they'll still pick up a SQ A380 on the cheap. lol

WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?!?!?!?! They're an american airline and are making their entire fleet french/german. A350 is not as good as 787 and the only reason that 350 would come first is because of them deferring the 787 repeatedly

All interesting comments. Having recently flown KIX-LAX r/t three times on JAL I do concur the 787 is not a dream airliner ... unless you are 5'6" or shorter.

Aren't Delta still flying old rear-engined planes and 767's?

Modernize!!!!

This is a no- brainer: DL would rather spend their shareholder's $$ in Europe rather than the US.

Nobody really commented on the fact that Richard Anderson, former CEO/current chairman of delta, at least recently, LOVED being a prick to Boeing. (See his last year's 777 valuation comments.) This couldn't be a factor, right? LOL

@MontanaOsprey. I am pretty sure it was a factor. Boeing was using exim bank to finance foreign airlines aircraft purchase from them at prefferable interest rates. Interest rates that they dont extend to Delta etc. Exim bank....i read somewhere, correct me if i am wrong ...is taxpayers money, which in turn is being used to finance the arab carriers who dont care if they make or lose money, thereby threatening US carriers by flying with empty seats at a 60% rate plus cheap tix to boot.

@Eric: They will be -- Airbus now have a factory in Mobile, Alabama, where US-made A319, A320, A321 aircraft will be going to Delta, JetBlue, AA, and others. Keep in mind Boeing is moving some of its operations to China, with the full intent of building 737s in China, not Seattle.

Delta has their own, very capable, MRO. The old aircraft are paid for, so other than insurance there's no cost to have them other than maintenance/repairs. Until fuel prices start to skyrocket, it's MUCH cheaper to run the old birds into the ground. It's the same reason why many people drive older cars -- it's paid for, why take on new debt for no real gain/benefit? Keep in mind aircraft aren't static like cars. Interiors can and are upgraded, flight systems are upgraded. Even engines sometimes see upgrades.

Other than the lack of IFE, I don't mind the Mad Dogs. Very quiet aircraft if you're sitting up front and the last one I was on had a newer interior, even 100% LED lighting inside. Other than the funky 1980s intercom panel by the purser, the cabin never gave a clue that you were in a 20+ year old aircraft.

I used to fly ONLY Delta for many years. Now that they are buying non-American and used planes they won’t see my face ever again.

So many sad ignorant people with all this anti foreign nonsense aka Delta is not buying American crap etc. The problem is the American corporate mindset why do you think GM and or the US car market when down the drain?

Poor design, manufacturing and marketing its the reason why hardly anyone buys American cars anymore same goes for airplanes especially after McD married Boeing now greedy shady business, shoddy workmanship and lies etc are Boeing's trademark these days. Delta has to make money and wasting or going out of business due to some outdated patriotic notion is stupid.

I come from a pilots point of view and most commercial pilots that I know would choose flying any Airbus over the new Boeing and their planes any day of the week. The problem with Boeing of today is numerous and widespread.

Yayy! No 3-3-3 narrow seating on the 787!