another consideration regarding the China aspect of the thread is that Anderson said that DL would add service from MSP to China and is hinting at the same from ATL based on the arrival of new technology aircraft.
since the 359s are supposed to start arriving in 2017 as the 744s head out the door based on current plans, DL apparently sees both a need to diversify the number of gateways from which it operates service to non-Japan Asia as well as sees the 359 as capable of providing the costs necessary to do so.
It is also worth noting that DL decided not to accept Boeing's proposal supposedly partly on the basis of 777-200LRs being part of the early deliveries under the proposal. It is also noteworthy that DL considered the 777-300ER but rejected it, apparently based on Airbus' willingness to discount their products down to the level that the ownership cost advantage of older technology aircraft is eliminated.
Given that DL has a pretty small 777 fleet and with the departure of the 744, DL could have a significant operational cost advantage across the Pacific compared to AA which will still have a large fleet of 777s and UA which also has a large fleet of 777s and 744s. while both AA and UA are receiving 787s and A350s, it isn't clear what their transition plan from older aircraft will be.
DL's int'l fleet restructuring might be an example where DL ends up with a cost advantage even with otherwise more expensive newer aircraft, in contrast to what DL is doing with the narrowbody domestic fleet where half of DL's narrowbody fleet additions are with older technology used aircraft.
