Delta has operated all Boeing 767 models: -200, -300/300ER and -400ER, and currently flies the world's largest 767 airline fleet.
Technical Advances
In 1982, Delta's first 767-200 aircraft offered:
- Wide-body convenience & comfort.
- New advanced wing design, which allowed more efficient lift for quicker climb to cruising altitude.
- Quieter and 30 percent more fuel-efficient than Delta's older jets it replaced.
- Digital "glass cockpit" that included 40 computers.
- Flight deck design similar to the Boeing 757, so the FAA allowed pilots who flew the 767 to also fly the 757 without going through additional training. Delta, the first carrier to fly both 757 and 767, made commercial aviation history in 1984, when two of its pilots completed a demonstration of common-type pilot rating.
Ship 102 The Spirit of Delta
Delta Ship 102 holds a special place in Delta hearts and history. Employees purchased Delta's first 767 as a gift to the airline and named it "The Spirit of Delta"; now on display at the Delta Museum. Learn more.
767-300
Delta was the first U.S. carrier to fly a Boeing 767-300 in scheduled service on December 1, 1986. Inaugural flight: Atlanta-Miami, Florida.
The -300 was a stretched version of the -200 model. Carrying 60 more passengers, its fuselage was longer by 21 feet and 3 inches. It was 20 percent more fuel efficient and carried 25 percent more cargo than the 767-200.
Delta purchased the -300 for "intermediate and long-range runs that enjoy heavy demand." Initial service from New England, New York and Montreal, Canada, to Florida and the Bahamas. In the 1990s, the 767-300 frequently flew Delta's transcontinental and Hawaiian routes. By 2006, it was flying for Delta in Latin America, Puerto Rico and on the U.S. mainland between Atlanta and Florida and over medium to long transcontinental routes.
767-300ER
Extended range version of the -300 model.
In September 1988, Delta selected Boeing 767-300ER and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 for flexibility on its international routes. Delta planned to operate the 767-300ER over the Atlantic, and to fly the MD-11 over the Pacific and later to Europe.
Delta began 767-300ER service in 1990. In 1996, Delta made its first move to retire its older Lockheed L-1011 transatlantic fleet to domestic service, replacing them with the Boeing 767-300ER. By 2006, 767-300ER aircraft were flying most of Delta's transatlantic routes and to South America.
In May 2004, Delta completed a five-month reconfiguration of its 767-300ER fleet, adding more economy class seats and removing some BusinessElite Seats, in response to changing passenger demand. Each standard -300ER now held 36 Business Elite seats, down from 48, and 168 economy class seats, up from 147. The seven 767-300ER aircraft from Gulf Air and Asiana, which differed from the standard -300ER because of an extra door in the BusinessElite cabin, were reconfigured from 48 BusinessElite seats to 30, and from 142 economy seats to 175. Both seat counts include the crew rest seats.
767-400ER
Delta was launch customer for this final extended-range version of the 767 in 1997, continuing plans to retire its international L-1011s. The -400ER model stretched 21.1 feet to 201.4 feet with a wingspan increase of 14.3 feet to meet the need for a Boeing airliner sized between the -300 model and 777-200. The -400ER also featured improved electrical and air-conditioning systems, increased takeoff weight, "raked" wingtips to increase fuel efficiency, and a new 777-style interior.
Delta took delivery of its first 767-400ER on August 11, 2000, and began replacing L-1011s on high-volume domestic flights:
- First Delta 767-432ER service: Oct. 1, 2000, between Atlanta and the Florida cities of Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa.
- By the end of 2000, to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Maui and Salt Lake City.
- By April 2001, to New York-LaGuardia and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Delta received its 100th 767 jet from Boeing on October 23, 2000. It was the sixth 767-400ER delivered to Delta in 2000.
On March 27, 2007, Delta announced plans to convert its entire 767-400ER fleet to an international configuration, featuring a BusinessElite cabin. Lie-flat seats were installed in the -400ER BusinessElite cabins in Spring 2009.
At the end of 2009, Delta 767-432ERs international destination included Buenos Aires, Argentina; Caracas, Venezuela; Lima, Peru; London and Manchester, England; Madrid, Spain; Munich, Germany; Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil; Milan and Rome, Italy; and Tel Aviv, Israel. The 767-432ER also continued to fly high-volume domestic flights.
Special Liveries
Delta has placed commemorative markings on a number of 767s in its fleet:
- The Spirit of Delta: 767-200, Ship 102 (N102DA) in service from 1982-2006; now on display at Delta Flight Museum.
- Habitat for Humanity: 767-300ER, Ship 1701 (N171DZ) painted in December 2006 to raise awareness of Habitat for Humanity International's global work and highlight efforts of employee participation in Delta's Force For Global Good community support.
- SkyTeam 767s: 767-400ER, Ship 1820 (N844MH) and 767-300ER, Ship 1705 (N175DZ). Painted in SkyTeam's Unified Livery of metallic gray and the navy blue Skyteam logo. Delta was first SkyTeam member to showcase an airplane with new SkyTeam livery in March 2009. Learn more.
- American Cancer Society Relay for Life: 767-400ER, Ship 1817 (N841MH) Brand applied in April 2010 to support American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, a mainly volunteer-driven cancer fundraising event for cancer research and awareness. In 2013, featured American Cancer Society's 100th Anniversary logo with phrase "The Official Sponsor of Birthdays" near nose of the aircraft, adjacent to boarding door.
- Pink Plane: 767-400ER, Ship 1821 (N845MH) painted pink in May 2010 to help raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research in conjunction with Breast Cancer Research Foundation. BCRF's trademarked pink ribbon logo is on the tail and adjacent to boarding door. In 2012, added Evelyn Lauder's signature in memory of her dedication to help find a cure for breast cancer.
- United Way: 767-300, Ship 139 (N139DL) since 2011 carries United Way logo in support of United Way's "Live United" efforts to improve education, health and income.
- Andrew Young: 767-300ER, Ship 1606 (N16065) was dedicated on May 17, 2012, to Andrew Young, civil rights legend and former Ambassador to the United Nations, to honor his lifetime achievements and kick off his 80th birthday celebration.
Retirements
Delta retired its 767-200 fleet in 2006.
The last of Delta's domestic Boeing 767-300 fleet retired on June 3, 2019. Boeing 767-332, N1402A, Ship 1402, flew from Salt Lake City to Atlanta as flight DL1802. Delta now operated 56 Boeing 767-300ER and 21 767-400ER aircraft.
More Information
- Delta's 767 Fleet List: Ship, registration and serial numbers and engine type for each aircraft as of September 1, 2013
- 1982 Delta "Boeing 767" Brochure: Photos and highlights of the 767-200 travel experience
- Flickr: Photos show transformation of The Spirit of Delta from operating aircraft into an award-winning exhibit at the Delta Flight Museum