In your opinion, what are the saddest early retirements caused by the virus?

Here's mine

5- KLM 747
4- Virgin Atlantic 747
3- Air Canada 767
2- Delta Mad Dogs
1- American Airlines 757, 767, E190, A330-300

What about you? Feel free to talk about your experiences with these aircraft/any you fondly like.

Delta MD-90 - never got to fly on an MD-90.

Honestly sad to see Delta retire its 777s so early. Ton of life left in them, but makes sense for simplification purposes.

Ishrion wrote:

Delta MD-90 - never got to fly on an MD-90.

Honestly sad to see Delta retire its 777s so early. Ton of life left in them, but makes sense for simplification purposes.

Yeah, the 350s are 21% more fuel efficient, as well as the 339s. I honestly don't know about the 757s/767s, or where they are headed next. I believe there will be severe fleet cuts in the next few years.

QANTAS 747 and KLM 747 will definitely be on my list of sad early retirements...

The Delta 777-200LRs seemed cool, although I never got to fly one.

Also the TG 777-200A retirements, which now leaves UA as the last 772A operator.

I'd probably agree with the Delta MD-90... I got lucky enough to fly one of DL's MD-88s last winter but now that the -90s are gone, so is my chance of ever getting on one of those.

I also think it's sad how a lot of airlines including AA are retiring all or many of their 757s but at least there seems to be a realistic chance remaining to fly on one after COVID in some way.

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

747 retirements are the saddest by far so KL and VS at the top of my list

flipdewaf wrote:

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

IB and LH will keep flying A346 for some time, although not much, better to hurry up. IB might not fly it to the US anymore (MAD-MEX probably the closer route to the US) but LH is likely to keep it in some markets when schedules resume.

flipdewaf wrote:

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

You still have options, though they are incredibly risky. The main ones left are Scandinavian Airlines, Air Belgium, Azerbaijan Airlines, and Swiss??? Otherwise, you are stuck with SyrianAir, Iran Aesman, Kam Air, Mahan Air, and Air Madagascar. Lufthansa and South African are retiring them fast. Good luck! I hope you can catch a flight on this wonderful bird.

For me, probably the 747, A380 and A340. 747 because I have yet to try one, A380 and A340 because they are so comfortable and quiet to ride on.

Boeing757100 wrote:

flipdewaf wrote:

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

You still have options, though they are incredibly risky. The main ones left are Scandinavian Airlines, Air Belgium, Azerbaijan Airlines, and Swiss??? Otherwise, you are stuck with SyrianAir, Iran Aesman, Kam Air, Mahan Air, and Air Madagascar. Lufthansa and South African are retiring them fast. Good luck! I hope you can catch a flight on this wonderful bird.

There's a fairly good chance the SAS A340s aren't making a return. They didn't have long to go prior to coronavirus. Even if they do return, it will only be for a short period. A shame, they had a wonderful business class cabin, well on par with many much newer types.

For me it’s Deltas 777 and any 747s. I got into aviation around the time Delta got the 777 and growing up it was my favorite plane and Delta was my favorite airline. 747s have such class to them and we are entering a world where planes don’t have much aesthetic uniqueness - the 747 was beautiful and one of a kind in terms of looks. It saddens me to think in 10 years how much less diversity there will be in spotting.

TheEuphorian wrote:

Also the TG 777-200A retirements, which now leaves UA as the last 772A operator.

I thought I heard a rumor that there was still a chance of them coming back.

Boeing757100 wrote:

5- KLM 747
4- Virgin Atlantic 747
3- Air Canada 767
2- Delta Mad Dogs
1- American Airlines 757, 767, E190, A330-300

I believe some of them had been planned to retire. Am I right? The pandemic just hastens the process.

KLMatSJC wrote:

TheEuphorian wrote:

Also the TG 777-200A retirements, which now leaves UA as the last 772A operator.

I thought I heard a rumor that there was still a chance of them coming back.

Probably not considering that they are all 20+ years old with deteriorating interiors.

KLM was sad because they had probably planned something special for the 747 goodbye.

KLM Boeing 747-400 (although three of them are still flying)
Delta MD-88 and MD-90
SAS A340 (not officially announced)
Air Canada B767
Other airlines B757 and A340

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

Definitely the 747

The md-88.. sadly will never log on

btuszynski11 wrote:

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

I doubt it given they made an official announcement, there are plenty of A350s on order. There is what 1? Route ATL-JNB which will now stop in CPT that is somewhat affected by payload compared to the 77L and LAX-SYD which is easily done by an A359, the 77E could have done it but the 77L allowed a full load of freight which the 359 won’t lift as much but still easily does the route.

btuszynski11 wrote:

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

The longest flight in the world is done by an A350. There are 4 A350 routes that are longer than any Delta 777-200LR route, at least one of those is not done with an ULR variant. Los Angeles - Sydney doesn't even figure on the wikipedia list of the 30 longest flights, a list where the A350 now makes up a third of longest flights.

btuszynski11 wrote:

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

I wish. The A350 is 20% more fuel efficient, and with more 359s and 339s, the 777 becomes redundant. And you are right, the LR's are barely ten, and got retrofitted like a year or so ago. But I think one exception for the A350 is ATL-JNB. The 359 can't operate there, cause it is a hot and high airfield. They are planning to use Cape Town as a stopover. I think Delta should convert them to dedicated freighters for a "Delta Cargo." Because I don't think demand could be restored for at least ten years, and I think they should keep one pax 777 for atl-jnb. Call me stupid, but wouldn't YOU rather have 4 seating classes to choose from instead of 3. I am aware of the possible drawbacks of this plan, so don't call me out. Anyways, I agree that the 777 retirements are almost as sad as the 747 Delta retirement 2 years ago.

afterburner wrote:

Boeing757100 wrote:

5- KLM 747
4- Virgin Atlantic 747
3- Air Canada 767
2- Delta Mad Dogs
1- American Airlines 757, 767, E190, A330-300

I believe some of them had been planned to retire. Am I right? The pandemic just hastens the process.

Exactly. THe fact it speeds up is more hear wrenching. Am I right.

Boeing757100 wrote:

btuszynski11 wrote:

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

I wish. The A350 is 20% more fuel efficient, and with more 359s and 339s, the 777 becomes redundant. And you are right, the LR's are barely ten, and got retrofitted like a year or so ago. But I think one exception for the A350 is ATL-JNB. The 359 can't operate there, cause it is a hot and high airfield. They are planning to use Cape Town as a stopover. I think Delta should convert them to dedicated freighters for a "Delta Cargo." Because I don't think demand could be restored for at least ten years, and I think they should keep one pax 777 for atl-jnb. Call me stupid, but wouldn't YOU rather have 4 seating classes to choose from instead of 3. I am aware of the possible drawbacks of this plan, so don't call me out. Anyways, I agree that the 777 retirements are almost as sad as the 747 Delta retirement 2 years ago.

That’s the whole point though, 18 is a small sub fleet of 777s and that is split into 2 8 77E , 10 77L within that. There isn’t a conversion for the 77L. Keep 1 pax 77L? What is this 4 classes instead of 3? The A359 is newer and has less classes? Possible drawbacks are that your plan doesn’t make sense. 10 years is a long time, I mean you could Be right but what would be the point of keeping 1 77L then if there isn’t demand for 10 years.

Boeing757100 wrote:

btuszynski11 wrote:

Is there any chance Delta brings back the 77L? Doesn't seem right with the new retrofit and age. The A350 can't exactly replace the 77L.

I wish. The A350 is 20% more fuel efficient, and with more 359s and 339s, the 777 becomes redundant. And you are right, the LR's are barely ten, and got retrofitted like a year or so ago. But I think one exception for the A350 is ATL-JNB. The 359 can't operate there, cause it is a hot and high airfield. They are planning to use Cape Town as a stopover. I think Delta should convert them to dedicated freighters for a "Delta Cargo." Because I don't think demand could be restored for at least ten years, and I think they should keep one pax 777 for atl-jnb. Call me stupid, but wouldn't YOU rather have 4 seating classes to choose from instead of 3. I am aware of the possible drawbacks of this plan, so don't call me out. Anyways, I agree that the 777 retirements are almost as sad as the 747 Delta retirement 2 years ago.

The extra 4th class on the 777 is just a standard economy seat with 3 inches more legroom. Given that the A350 is the same size as the 777, there is nothing to prevent Delta from doing the same on that type way cheaper than keeping any number of 777s.

upperdeckfan wrote:

flipdewaf wrote:

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

IB and LH will keep flying A346 for some time, although not much, better to hurry up. IB might not fly it to the US anymore (MAD-MEX probably the closer route to the US) but LH is likely to keep it in some markets when schedules resume.

Well you spoke to soon. LH announced a few weeks ago they have decommissioned ALL 17 of their A340-600s. (There is a possibility up to 10 may come back in a few years, although unlikely.)

IB today just announced the retirement of ALL 14 of their A340s.

There really aren't many left now.

george77300 wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

flipdewaf wrote:

Any and all A340 retirements for me, I have flown all major types except the A340 (in any guise) and the A350, I figure I'll get to go on an A350 one day but time/opportunity is running out for the A340.

Fred

IB and LH will keep flying A346 for some time, although not much, better to hurry up. IB might not fly it to the US anymore (MAD-MEX probably the closer route to the US) but LH is likely to keep it in some markets when schedules resume.

Well you spoke to soon. LH announced a few weeks ago they have decommissioned ALL 17 of their A340-600s. (There is a possibility up to 10 may come back in a few years, although unlikely.)

IB today just announced the retirement of ALL 14 of their A340s.

There really aren't many left now.

Well, those annoucement will come true if recovery is really slow.

IB announcement doesn't set a specific date for retirement, I'm afraid they'll keep some for high attitude SouthAm stations (BOG, MEX, UIO) if the A359's start having to stop over somewhere in route.

As you say, LH announcement leaves the door open for reinstatement of the newer frames. If traffic recovery is faster than expected you'll see some flying again.

Time will tell....

Basically all the 4 engines aircrafts.

I was lucky enought to have booked LAX-MEL on a QF A380 for February this year. My first A380 ride. Little did I know on the way to Australia that I'd end up on a subbed aircraft (789) on the way back, or the A380s would be grounded within a month or so. My first and likely only A380 ride.

There's a new entry that will be #1 for me and for many others.

Won't be entirely surprising but a big loss to the aviation enthusiast...I have it on good authority but will await the news to officially break.

Kent350787 wrote:

fbgdavidson wrote:

There's a new entry that will be #1 for me and for many others.

Won't be entirely surprising but a big loss to the aviation enthusiast...I have it on good authority but will await the news to officially break.

Is that the BA announced today? All 744 retired.

Indeed, yes. I learned of the news ahead of the official announcement. Am gutted by the news, even though with recent developments it seemed likely.

My top 5 as of yet..

1: KLM 747
2: BA 747
3: Qantas 747
4: Virgin 747
5: Delta MD-90

1, 747
2. A340
3. the MDs

that's sad enough. can't htink of 4 or 5

A340. The best-looking aircraft in my opinion. These four small hairdryers on the long tube makes it a very nice sight.