I was going thru Delta's latest timetable and I found it very strange that MD-90's are not routed through Atlanta AT ALL! Considering ATL is DL's biggest hub, and that the MD-90's make it to DFW, SLC and CVG, I was wondering if there is a reason for this, or is it just a coincidence. By the way, I read thru all the flight routings to verify this (boy, do I need to get a life!)

Maybe the pilots who were using MD-90 are base in SLC or DFW. Nobody is from ATL. I don't know for sure the reasons. I have noticed a few MD-90 in ATL service for a while. I don't know why they don't use them in ATL right now. Why don't you ask Delta at website "Feedback"? You could get some answer from them.  

All MD90 pilots are indeed based out of DFW and are certified to fly both the MD88 & MD90, whereas MD88 pilots based anywhere else for DL are only allowed to fly the MD88.
The same is true for the B733, which DL aquired from Western. None of those aircraft are based in the East. I don't think I have ever seen one in CVG or ATL.

Boeing727

DL M90's are flown west of the Mississippi solely for performance reasons......for the M88. DL flies no M88 aircraft to SLC, therefore the M90's (with better performance) are used for the markets out of SLC that would normally be flown by M88's. There are pilot bases in SLC and DFW for M90's, DFW provides the heavy maintenance. With only 17 airplanes, trying to fly them throughout the whole system would be very inefficient, so they are limited to certain markets and only two hubs (although CVG sees them once-in-a-while).

makes business sense .. have 2 -3 crew bases in a region, operate similar aircraft from those bases and routes for those aircraft.

Delta uses the 733 on ATL-ABE.

Jeff

Delta does not operate their 733 aircraft on ATL-ABE. No DAL 733 (analog flight deck) fly through ATL.

ATL-ABE is served by the 73G, a 737-300 with a glass cockpit (formerly flown by Germania).

Sorry about being so precise......

Seasonedflyer,
you are right about the MD90 in CVG, last Christmas I had the pleasure to fly on one into DFW. Other than CVG (maybe perhaps ATL) I do no think that the MD90 makes it east of the Mississippi.

Boeing727

I once flew DL MD90 from ATL-BOS

The 733 flies often from ATL-IAD. Although it may or may not fly the route at this juncture, it flew last year on that route a lot. Also, the MD-90 is flown regularly on DFW-DCA.