Delta Air Lines operated its final Boeing 777 passenger flight on Saturday. At 1 pm the aircraft, registered as N701DN, departed New York as Flight DL8777 to Los Angeles, where it arrived around six hours later.
Delta had a total of eighteen Triple Sevens (ten 777-200LRs and eight 777-200ERs). They are on average 10 to 21 years old. Due to COVID, they have become redundant and they are being retired much earlier than planned, Delta announced earlier this year.
“Our Airbus A330s and A350-900s, which are more economical and cost-efficient, will operate the long haul flights when international demand returns,” CEO Ed Bastian wrote to his staff at the time. He called phasing out the 777s a difficult decision.
The Triple Sevens were beloved by passengers because Delta was one of the few airlines that chose to keep the 3-3-3 configuration in Economy Class (almost everywhere it is now a tighter 3-4-3). Moreover, the aircraft were recently equipped with a new interior.
The 777 is not the only type that is leaving the fleet early due to the crisis. Delta recently said goodbye to the MD-88 / MD-90 and Boeing 737-700. At the end of September it was also announced that the Bombardier CRJ200 (2023), Boeing 717-200 (2025) and 767-300ER (2025) will also have to leave earlier than planned.