Delta Air Lines announced on Monday that it will resume flights between the U.S. and China on June 25. The airline will fly between Seattle and Shanghai twice a week, with a stopover in Seoul. In July, the flight from Seattle will take place once a week while the second service will be made from Detroit.
The flights will be operated with the Airbus A350-900 with 306 seats – 32 seats in the executive Delta One, 48 seats in the Delta Premium and 226 in the main cabin.
“We are excited to resume our services between the U.S. and China, as economic and social activities start to recover,” said Wong Hong, Delta’s President – Greater China and Singapore.
Boeing 777 retired early
At the same time as it resumes international flights, Delta plans to anticipate the retirement of the Boeing 777 jets. Previously scheduled for the end of 2020, the 18 777-200LR and 777-200ER models should be retired from service in the middle of the fall.
The information was shared by the company’s CEO, Ed Bastian, during a presentation to shareholders last week. The 777 was used by Delta on its long-haul routes, but is being replaced by the A350-900, which offers more economy and a more pleasant flight for passengers.
The change in planning was so abrupt that Delta completed a retrofit in the 777 a month before the coronavirus pandemic, which practically stopped air passenger traffic worldwide.
Since then, Delta Air Lines has announced the retirement of several aircraft, including the Boeing 757 and 767 and its MD-80 and MD-90, known as “Mad Dog”.
