Delta reported to be considering cities besides ATL/DTW/MSP/SEA for 747 farewell tour

FoxtrotSierra · Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:46 am

Puget Sound Biz Journal reporting that DL spokesman has said other cities beside ATL/DTW/MSP/SEA are under consideration.

”Other cities are under consideration, Delta spokesman Anthony Black emailed Tuesday, but the stops and schedule haven't been finalized.”

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/new ... w.amp.html

Guesses?

tomaheath · Wed Nov 08, 2017 10:38 am

Bricktop · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:20 am

JFK had service from TLV and MNL until fairly recently. I can't imagine they would get passed over.

oldannyboy · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:23 am

I suggest adding the somewhat crucial word "747" to the title! :-)

PSU.DTW.SCE · Wed Nov 08, 2017 12:08 pm

Dtw
Msp
Atl
Sea

Maybe:
Pae
Lax
JFK
Hnl
Nrt
ANC

flymco753 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 1:49 pm

The final route SHOULD be either DTW-MSP or MSP-DTW. I wonder also if they’ll reflect Northwest by putting the N on the tail or crossing Delta out up front and putting NORTHWEST in the front like United did.

jplatts · Wed Nov 08, 2017 1:51 pm

Will Delta be flying over DFW during the 747 Farewell Tour? Delta did previously have international service to Europe out of DFW back when it had a hub at DFW, even though Delta had discontinued all of its nonstop international flights out of DFW prior to the dismantling of its DFW hub.

SANFan · Wed Nov 08, 2017 1:54 pm

oldannyboy wrote:
I suggest adding the somewhat crucial word "747" to the title!

Agreed! Yours is the first post in the entire thread that gives a clue about what is being talked about...

bb

FoxtrotSierra · Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:08 pm

Man, I'm hoping MCO gets it. They did bring it here several times, so you never know.

United flew its 744's almost exclusively from ORD and SFO, so for EWR, IAD, IAH, and DEN, most of which almost never, if ever got the UA 744, getting it was a really, really rare occasion worth celebrating.

Delta flies its 744's primarily from DTW, but they make appearances at ATL and MSP every couple of weeks frequently enough that they "never really left." If you're in the FB spotting groups, you know that DL 744's stop by much more frequently than UA's 744's did at EWR/IAD/IAH/DEN, especially at MSP for fuel stops and diversions etc. en route/from DTW. For this reason, it's kind of hard to imagine DL "celebrating" the 744 at any three of these hubs to the extent UA did, but they will visit for sure. I think DL will pay tribute to its former hubs, and maybe a couple other wild cards, but DFW is a total crapshoot.

My guesses:

JFK
LAX
CVG
MEM
SLC
SEA
MCO

mikejepp · Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:13 pm

FoxtrotSierra wrote:
Man, I'm hoping MCO gets it. They did bring it here several times, so you never know.

United flew its 744's almost exclusively from ORD and SFO, so for EWR, IAD, IAH, and DEN, most of which almost never, if ever got the UA 744, getting it was a really, really rare occasion worth celebrating.

Delta flies its 744's primarily from DTW, but they make appearances at ATL and MSP every couple of weeks frequently enough that they "never really left." If you're in the FB spotting groups, you know that DL 744's stop by much more frequently than UA's 744's did at EWR/IAD/IAH/DEN, especially at MSP for fuel stops and diversions etc. en route/from DTW. For this reason, it's kind of hard to imagine DL "celebrating" the 744 at any three of these hubs to the extent UA did, but they will visit for sure. I think DL will pay tribute to its former hubs, and maybe a couple other wild cards, but DFW is a total crapshoot.

My guesses:

JFK
LAX
CVG
MEM
SLC
SEA
MCO

For many years, the 747 was a multi-time visitor to DEN every day with UA. To LAX, SFO, SEA, and ORD in the year 2000 timeframe.

Beechtobus · Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:54 pm

I'm surprised no mention of ORD yet. The 747s DL originally had in its fleet through most of the early 70's were a regular visitor to ORD with regular flights to ATL, MIA, and seasonally to other Florida cities. ORD has always been been a very important station for DL, even having hub/focus city status pre deregulation. I could definitely see ORD in the running if DL id looking at domestic spokes to run its final 747 through.

stlgph · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:14 pm

Wouldn't a MSP-PHX run be quite obvious?

oobitsa · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:22 pm

Saw one last week at BWI doing a military charter. Figured that would have to be my farewell.

jumbojet · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:22 pm

I would really appreciate everyone's opinion if they think Delta will do something special in DTW for the last commercial 747 flight that leaves the U.S.A. on December 15th. I booked a seat on that flight but now that I see DL is planning a farewell 747 tour, I am not so sure they will make December 15th a big deal or not. Your comments and thoughts are much appreciated.

lavalampluva · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:29 pm

I wonder if they are going to do something similar to what UA did the other day with their last 747 flight. They made a huge deal out of it. Lots of hoopla. :bouncy:

ckfred · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:50 pm

Beechtobus wrote:
I'm surprised no mention of ORD yet. The 747s DL originally had in its fleet through most of the early 70's were a regular visitor to ORD with regular flights to ATL, MIA, and seasonally to other Florida cities. ORD has always been been a very important station for DL, even having hub/focus city status pre deregulation. I could definitely see ORD in the running if DL id looking at domestic spokes to run its final 747 through.

And don't forget how often NW 747s used to visit ORD. Back in the 1970s, NW often had multiple 747s on ORD-MSP. NW also on the 747 on ORD-NRT, until NW dropped the route to focus international flying at its hubs.

Heck, I remember NW flying 747s on ORD-MSP and ORD-DTW, when AA's flight attendants went on strike.

The only problem now would be trying to fit a 747 into the DL gates on E.

Utah744 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:57 pm

I think VCV will be the last stop on the tour.

Sooner787 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:07 pm

Someone mentioned in the NFL charters thread the Seahawks will fly to/from DFW 23DEC
for their game against the Dallas Cowboys on a DL 744. Hopefully, that 744 overnights at DFW like most NFL charters
that come into DFW

Flighty · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:19 pm

stlgph wrote:
Wouldn't a MSP-PHX run be quite obvious?

To replicate the first revenue route. I like it. :bouncy:

sspontak · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:20 pm

I would like to see JFK, PHX, MSP, NRT and HKG on the farewell tour as these are routes I remember flying the NW 747.

Narfish641 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:27 pm

Its been 2 months since Delta brought their 747 to ATL after an unscheduled aircraft change that was bound for NRT. So far the 747 has been at ATL about 4 times (3 of which were the hurricane relief flights), but I hope we can see it over there in ATL soon. But hey, at least I can say that we have they 747 museum here!

sgbroimp · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:28 pm

Don't worry if you miss this farewell series of tours. You can get on LH at JFK and other airports and ride a 747 for the next 15 years or so. The world's longest farewell I guess.

Flighty · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:37 pm

sspontak wrote:
I would like to see JFK, PHX, MSP, NRT and HKG on the farewell tour as these are routes I remember flying the NW 747.

How about HNL??

jumbojet · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:40 pm

sgbroimp wrote:
Don't worry if you miss this farewell series of tours. You can get on LH at JFK and other airports and ride a 747 for the next 15 years or so. The world's longest farewell I guess.

good point, or Korean.

beerbus · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:45 pm

The tour is currently routed DTW PAE.

lavalampluva · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:46 pm

The first time I flew on a 747 was on a NW MSP-MCO charter in 1982

cathay747 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:47 pm

I think they should do special flights at every domestic station that NW and DL have ever operated any version of the 747. Simple. So yeah...IAD, ORD, PHX, HNL, etc.

jumbojet · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:47 pm

A lot more questions come to mind. For starters, will DL sell coach tickets with upgrades eligible to business class or what?

Beechtobus · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:49 pm

sgbroimp wrote:
Don't worry if you miss this farewell series of tours. You can get on LH at JFK and other airports and ride a 747 for the next 15 years or so. The world's longest farewell I guess.

Ha! I have to agree that these 747 farewell tours are all a little silly, especially when there are an abundance of passenger versions still operating all over the world with non-US airlines. I was in AMS a few weeks ago and it seemed like there were more 747s than anything else (I know that probably wasn't the case outside of the F and G concourses). Don't get me wrong, "The Queen of the Skies" will always have a special place in my heart as I have flown on many many different airlines 747s starting with the UA Royal Pacific Service days. When the last one worldwide operates its last flight, by all means, have a blow out farewell, I just feel that the pomp of every airline having their farewell tour devoted to the 747 is diluted by the fact that there are still so many operating.

RockIsland41 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:56 pm

I vote for Dallas Love Field. DL did operate it here in early 1970s. (and it could have 'fun' with WN....)

TWA1985 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:33 pm

Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Northwest Orient fly their very first 747 flight into or out of ORD? So it would be quite fitting to add ORD to the farewell tour.

jumbojet · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:02 pm

when will tickets go on sale?

stlgph · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:15 pm

sgbroimp wrote:
Don't worry if you miss this farewell series of tours. You can get on LH at JFK and other airports and ride a 747 for the next 15 years or so. The world's longest farewell I guess.

For the fun of it, Cher announced her farewell in 2002. She's scheduled concerts through 2018.

747, can you beat 16+ years of Cher?

Put your money on the table.

32andBelow · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:28 pm

NWAROOSTER · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:34 pm

TWA1985 wrote:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Northwest Orient fly their very first 747 flight into or out of ORD? So it would be quite fitting to add ORD to the farewell tour.

The first Northwest 747-151 flight with Passengers was N603US from MSP to JFK in June of 1970. :old:

toltommy · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:35 pm

For as many times as they diverted to TOL in the NW days, I think TOL deserves a touch and go...

RWA380 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 11:42 pm

PDX as well ...

Midex717 · Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:14 am

MKE should be added to the list.

n7371f · Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:46 am

flymco753 wrote:
The final route SHOULD be either DTW-MSP or MSP-DTW. I wonder also if they’ll reflect Northwest by putting the N on the tail or crossing Delta out up front and putting NORTHWEST in the front like United did.

That will never happen.

n7371f · Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:48 am

Utah744 wrote:
I think VCV will be the last stop on the tour.

MZJ. Marana.

FoxtrotSierra · Thu Nov 09, 2017 2:53 am

n7371f wrote:
flymco753 wrote:
The final route SHOULD be either DTW-MSP or MSP-DTW. I wonder also if they’ll reflect Northwest by putting the N on the tail or crossing Delta out up front and putting NORTHWEST in the front like United did.

That will never happen.

Seriously? I would not be surprised at all if the final route is in fact MSP-DTW!

tomaheath · Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:00 am

I’m in PHX now and to day I went down to TUC for the day and I could see all the Delta tails at MZJ from the highway.

n7371f · Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:01 am

If someone could help me, I could post a pic of 6302 at MZJ being prepped for mothball last week.

lavalampluva · Thu Nov 09, 2017 3:38 am

I recall the last D95 pax flight was routed DTW-MSP-ATL. I can't remember how they did the last D10. I want to think it was HNL-MSP.

wedgetail737 · Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:04 am

beerbus wrote:
The tour is currently routed DTW PAE.

I was wondering. The last DL 767-200 was at BFI on its farewell tour.

KBUF · Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:30 am

Sooner787 wrote:
Someone mentioned in the NFL charters thread the Seahawks will fly to/from DFW 23DEC
for their game against the Dallas Cowboys on a DL 744. Hopefully, that 744 overnights at DFW like most NFL charters
that come into DFW

A couple more to add to that list: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1370797&p=19939681

Week 15: Falcons (ATL-TPA-ATL)
Week 16: Chargers (LAX-EWR-LAX), Seahawks (SEA-DFW-SEA), Buccaneers (TPA-CLT-TPA)
Week 17: Bills (BUF-FLL-BUF)

SkyVoice · Thu Nov 09, 2017 5:50 am

ckfred wrote:
Beechtobus wrote:
I'm surprised no mention of ORD yet. The 747s DL originally had in its fleet through most of the early 70's were a regular visitor to ORD with regular flights to ATL, MIA, and seasonally to other Florida cities. ORD has always been been a very important station for DL, even having hub/focus city status pre deregulation. I could definitely see ORD in the running if DL id looking at domestic spokes to run its final 747 through.

And don't forget how often NW 747s used to visit ORD. Back in the 1970s, NW often had multiple 747s on ORD-MSP. NW also on the 747 on ORD-NRT, until NW dropped the route to focus international flying at its hubs.

I agree with ORD! I remember that, back in the early 1980s, NW was hubbing domestically at MSP, DTW & MEM (aka "Snowtown, Motown & Notown"), but their international flights were constrained by the bilateral agreements in effect at the time. I remember being at ORD in July, 1980 (during a horrendous heat wave!) & seeing a NW 747 at a gate, boarding for a flight to NRT. NW also had international 747 flights departing SEA, LAX & BOS. These were "gateways", not NW hubs. I also remember that NW had 747 flights from ORD to & from MSP. I say let Delta fly a 747 to ORD for her farewell tour, and welcome the Jumbo back to SEA, BOS, LAX & JFK, too!

cbphoto · Thu Nov 09, 2017 6:04 am

I have seen from a pretty reliable source, the last 747 flight is scheduled to be MSP-ATL as an employee only flight. Of course that is subject to change, but at the time, it seemed pretty concrete!

xdlx · Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:10 pm

n7371f wrote:
flymco753 wrote:
The final route SHOULD be either DTW-MSP or MSP-DTW. I wonder also if they’ll reflect Northwest by putting the N on the tail or crossing Delta out up front and putting NORTHWEST in the front like United did.

That will never happen.

I disagree..... DELTA is a shell of its former self. It appears the NW sign is ALIVE and well in ATL.

flymco753 · Thu Nov 09, 2017 12:57 pm

xdlx wrote:
n7371f wrote:
flymco753 wrote:
The final route SHOULD be either DTW-MSP or MSP-DTW. I wonder also if they’ll reflect Northwest by putting the N on the tail or crossing Delta out up front and putting NORTHWEST in the front like United did.

That will never happen.

I disagree..... DELTA is a shell of its former self. It appears the NW sign is ALIVE and well in ATL.

NW is very much alive at DTW, DL has barely touched the facilities other than to put the company name in the terminal, when you walk into the sky club, it’s screams NW. If you depart in the morning nearly every worker on the ramp and at the gate was NW, so the way they work is the same as before compared to big Delta stations like MCO or SLC or CVG.

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net