Delta to retire Boeing 777 from fleet

As a response to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Delta Air Lines will be retiring its Boeing 777 aircraft from the fleet, leaving the Airbus A350 as its lone ultra-long-range aircraft. Out of the 18 777-200s in its fleet, 10 of them are Long Range (LR) versions while the remaining are Extended Range (ER).

Delta Boeing 777. Getty Images

In a report from FlightGlobal, Delta chief operating officer Gil West said, "We’re making strategic, cost-effective changes to our fleet to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while also ensuring Delta is well-positioned for the recovery on the backside of the crisis."

“The 777 has been a reliable part of Delta’s success since it joined the fleet in 1999 and because of its unique operating characteristics, opened new non-stop, ultra-long-haul markets that only it could fly at that time," West continued.

The airline also has 32 long-range Airbus A330-900neo on order with 5 currently operating in its fleet.

Delta also announced in April that it is accelerating the retirement of 73 McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft.

McDonnell Douglas MD-90. Getty Images

The 777 has been part of Delta's fleet for 21 years