Long-Range 777s Arrive
Delta was the first U.S. carrier to take delivery of the Boeing 777-200LR, the world's longest-range commercial airplane, in 2008. With this new plane, Delta bolstered its international expansion with the ability to connect virtually any two city pairs around the globe nonstop, including Atlanta – Johannesburg, Los Angeles – Sydney, and other long-haul destinations.
The Boeing 777-200LR had a range of 8,800 miles and carried 15 crew members and 276 passengers. With lie-flat seats in business class, slimline seats in coach, and a new entertainment system, Delta's 777-232LR set a new standard for international travel among U.S. carriers.
There were 44 fully horizontal personal sleeper suites in the BusinessElite section in 2008, featuring:
- A reclining seat that adjusts to multiple comfortable positions, including a completely flat surface offering travelers a 6-foot 3-inch bed;
- A privacy screen incorporating pull out meal table, fold-out video monitor, integrated footrest and personal stowage compartment for bags, shoes or blankets; and
- Immediate access to the aisle so customers don't have to disturb another passenger when exiting their seat
Ship 7101: The Delta Spirit
Delta's first 777-232LR—Ship 7101 (N701DN)—was delivered on February 29, 2008, at Boeing Field in Seattle, Washington. See the news release.
On March 6, at a ceremony in the Delta Technical Operations Center in Atlanta, Ship 7101 was christened "The Delta Spirit" in recognition of Delta employees worldwide. The name also honored The Spirit of Delta, a Boeing 767-200 purchased by employees as a gift to Delta in 1982.
The Delta Spirit entered scheduled service on March 8, 2008, with a flight from Atlanta, to Los Angeles, California. It's first international flight was from Atlanta to Tokyo, Japan, on March 9, 2008.
Ship 7108: David C. Garrett
Kicking off a week of celebrations commemorating 80 years of Delta passenger service, Delta dedicated a long-range 777 to former CEO David C. Garrett on June 10, 2009. Garrett had served as Delta's CEO from 1978 to 1987.
Ship 7108 David C. Garrett went into service between Atlanta and Mumbai on June 11, 2009. The following month, it flew Delta's inaugural flight to Sydney, Australia, on July 1.
Ship 7102: The Spirit of Atlanta
In January 2011, Delta celebrated 70 years as Atlanta's hometown airline by christening Boeing 777-200LR, N702DN, "The Spirit of Atlanta" with a virtual bottle of Coca-Cola. Delta's close ties with the city date back to 1941, when the airline moved its headquarters to Atlanta. See the news release.
777 Reconfiguration
After 10 years and millions of miles logged, Delta decided to reconfigure its 777s to further invest in the international customer experience. The reconfigured aircraft, featuring Delta One Suite all-suite business class and Premium Select international economy class, made its debut in 2018. Delta spent about $100 million retrofitting all 18 aircraft in the 777 fleet, which at the time were flying long-haul routes between the U.S. and Sydney, Shanghai, Johannesburg and Mumbai.
COVID-19 and 777 Fleet Retirement
With schedule and cost reductions during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Delta decided to retire the 777 by the end of 2020, in order to “accelerate the airline’s strategy to simplify and modernize its fleet while continuing to operate newer, more cost-efficient aircraft.” See the news release.
"Even amid the biggest crisis in airline history, Delta’s 777s continued to serve a critical role. In August, Delta became the first U.S. airline to fly with cargo on the main deck of the aircraft by removing the seats of a 777-220ER, thus enabling more than 10,000 pounds of additional cargo capacity – an increase of more than 35% more weight per flight. The cargo carried included medical and PPE equipment, pharmaceuticals, home office supplies, U.S. mail and food." See the news release.
“The 777 was a workhorse in helping Delta become the premium carrier for business travel, and it undoubtedly set the bar for our position in international markets. Even in its final months, the 777 generated revenue for Delta while supporting our greater purpose of ‘people over profits’ by providing critical supplies to our communities.” John Laughter, Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations, October 2020
The final flights were:
- Flight DL8787 from Atlanta to Los Angeles on October 30, 2020.
- Flight DL8777 from New York-JFK to Los Angeles on October 31, 2020
