North by Northwest
Veteran
"Northwest, meanwhile, which is merging with Delta Air Lines, sees the 787 as a cornerstone to its long-haul strategy. The carrier had planned to use its first 787 to support the March 2009 launch of daily nonstop service from Detroit to Shanghai, but earlier this year also hinted at 787 flights to India and possibly Vietnam.
Boeing 747-400s will initially be deployed on the Detroit-Shanghai route instead. Northwest will also "use the opportunity of the [Delta] merger to reallocate the fleet types we have" to provide interim lift until the 787s are delivered, said Deschamps. He noted that the 777 and the 767 - types operated by Delta - are attractive aircraft.
Nonetheless, the merged Northwest/Delta is counting on delivery of 787s within-spec. "I don't think now we see a substitution for the 787 [with respect to] the range and efficiency. Right now, that aircraft remains the only aircraft for what we want to do," said Deschamps.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/...ithin-spec.html
Boeing 747-400s will initially be deployed on the Detroit-Shanghai route instead. Northwest will also "use the opportunity of the [Delta] merger to reallocate the fleet types we have" to provide interim lift until the 787s are delivered, said Deschamps. He noted that the 777 and the 767 - types operated by Delta - are attractive aircraft.
Nonetheless, the merged Northwest/Delta is counting on delivery of 787s within-spec. "I don't think now we see a substitution for the 787 [with respect to] the range and efficiency. Right now, that aircraft remains the only aircraft for what we want to do," said Deschamps.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/...ithin-spec.html