Anyone know why Delta is changing from A333 to 764 on ATL-HNL flight and to 763 on MSP-HNL? I looked at multiple weeks in April and May. Is it going back to Airbus in the future? Thanks.

ATL SLC HNL switched to the A333 so maybe they are shifting connecting capacity westward. Is MSP HNL on the 763 or 76L? I know that ATL SLC HNL used to be on the 763 and the two remaining 763's suck and are 30 years old so I figured they had switched it out for an A333 to use the 763s for sports charter. Maybe not.

Pre-merger DL used the 764 for many years on ATL-HNL so you could consider it a service resumption with that type. As for MSP-HNL going to the 763, DL could simply rightsizing the aircraft to the level of demand they see on the route. MSP-HNL has been seasonal since it restarted. Maybe with the downgauge they will keep it around longer, perhaps year-around?

It is really quite impressive to see all the service increases happening with Hawaii whether it be airlines upgauging aircraft, increasing frequencies, adding new routes and even new entrants.

77H

Interesting change. HNL has been pretty competitive so I maybe they need to rightsize capacity.

77H wrote:

Pre-merger DL used the 764 for many years on ATL-HNL so you could consider it a service resumption with that type.

Wasn't it previously twice daily? If so (and I believe it was), DL has gone from 2 764s to 1 744 to 1 A333 to 1 764 since the merger.

A 764 is an increase in business class seats and drop in economy from the A333. The 767-400 has more business class seats than any other plane in the Delta fleet. Hawaii has the reputation of not being particularly premium heavy, so interesting that DL is using its plane with the most business class seats to HNL.

I think I recall (or maybe now) DL using and 744 on ATL-HNL. Most likely the only scheduled domestic 744 flight in the USA.

I flew the 767-400 in 2003-2004 out of the LAX crew base. We flew LAX-HNL, LAX OOG, SLC-HNL, CVG-HNL and ATL-HNL. Great trips. Only problem was that on ATL-HNL flights, the initial cruise altitude was only FL250-260. Not much power on th -400. Great hand flying airplane. Loved it.

The A330-300s are needed for the move to replace the 767s on LHR routes, so hence the move.

jubguy3 wrote:

ATL SLC HNL switched to the A333 so maybe they are shifting connecting capacity westward. Is MSP HNL on the 763 or 76L? I know that ATL SLC HNL used to be on the 763 and the two remaining 763's suck and are 30 years old so I figured they had switched it out for an A333 to use the 763s for sports charter. Maybe not.

SLC-HNL is going back to the 763As

and they aren't 30 years old.

deltal1011man wrote:

jubguy3 wrote:

ATL SLC HNL switched to the A333 so maybe they are shifting connecting capacity westward. Is MSP HNL on the 763 or 76L? I know that ATL SLC HNL used to be on the 763 and the two remaining 763's suck and are 30 years old so I figured they had switched it out for an A333 to use the 763s for sports charter. Maybe not.

SLC-HNL is going back to the 763As

and they aren't 30 years old.

24 years but I recall that after the summer, both will be parked as widebodies are freed up from the summer season.

DeSpringbokke wrote:

The A330-300s are needed for the move to replace the 767s on LHR routes, so hence the move.

They’re using 332 to LHR, so that’s not the reason.

DeSpringbokke wrote:

deltal1011man wrote:

jubguy3 wrote:

ATL SLC HNL switched to the A333 so maybe they are shifting connecting capacity westward. Is MSP HNL on the 763 or 76L? I know that ATL SLC HNL used to be on the 763 and the two remaining 763's suck and are 30 years old so I figured they had switched it out for an A333 to use the 763s for sports charter. Maybe not.

SLC-HNL is going back to the 763As

and they aren't 30 years old.

24 years but I recall that after the summer, both will be parked as widebodies are freed up from the summer season.

currently the plan but who knows if it will stick this time or if Delta will decide to keep them around longer.

Newbiepilot wrote:

A 764 is an increase in business class seats and drop in economy from the A333. The 767-400 has more business class seats than any other plane in the Delta fleet. Hawaii has the reputation of not being particularly premium heavy, so interesting that DL is using its plane with the most business class seats to HNL.

Maybe they're hoping their FFs will burn more miles for a business class ticket to HI. Win/Win.

DC10LAXJFK wrote:

Anyone know why Delta is changing from A333 to 764 on ATL-HNL flight and to 763 on MSP-HNL? I looked at multiple weeks in April and May. Is it going back to Airbus in the future? Thanks.

Mostly to do with shifting the better A333 J product to LHR and other more premium destinations. It's a big hit in capacity for both, and it's a downgrade up front for most. I don't think ATL-HNL has ever been as low as one 764 in recent history. MSP-HNL has seen the 763 before briefly.

jbs2886 wrote:

I think HNL is going year round, that was announced when they dropped a European route (FCO maybe?).

MSP-HNL is still not year-round. It's suspended for most of fall, and then off and on there's periods of 5X or 6X weekly.

compensateme wrote:

They’re using 332 to LHR, so that’s not the reason.

It's all interconnected, and there will be at least one A333 on ATL-LHR. To move the A332s to LHR, A333s have to help back-fill their routes, and so on.

Sightseer wrote:

77H wrote:

Pre-merger DL used the 764 for many years on ATL-HNL so you could consider it a service resumption with that type.

Wasn't it previously twice daily? If so (and I believe it was), DL has gone from 2 764s to 1 744 to 1 A333 to 1 764 since the merger.

Correct. ATL was at one point (and likely more) twice daily at least in summer 2005.

A glance at the June 2005 DL timetable shows:
HONOLULU (HNL) 4501 mi
12:15 3:37 317 0 L 764
1:47 7:56 263 1 D 764
2:26 8:43 219 1 DS 764
3:40 7:01 365 0 D 764

If one considers what DL, NWA & WA had premerger(s) to Hawaii, DL has receded in the market while giving some of the market to HA/AS/VX and soon to be WN. The SF Bay Area has virtually been eliminated from the Hawaii market by Delta except for the 10day 739 SFO-HNL-SFO evening roundtrip during this holiday period. All 3 airlines had service of their own back before the WA merger and now it's non existent, while HA and AS/VX fly from all 3 Bay Area Airports to Hawaii. The 764 was also used ATL-SFO-HNL-SFO-ATL for years as a late evening to HNL with a early morning arrival back into SFO. Someone in HQ must think that DL FF'rs are willing to transfer in LAX or SEA to get to the Islands as they don't seem to believe the market is worthwhile serving. DL's lack of service from the Bay Area to both DFW,ORD & DEN is also a big hole. I do realize that current gate constraints due to AA's use of 3 of the C gates at SFO may be problematic but these voids were there long before the gate restrictions.

It is interesting that the Hawaii long hauls now operate with a smaller gauge than in the past but with a more elaborate service, since both MSP and ATL are going Delta One up front. Was the previous 2x764 service out of ATL with Business Elite service up front, or was it just regular first class service? They certainly upped the value for first class passengers even with the smaller seat than the A330 - because the soft product is going to be very competitive now.