DL to start ATL/LAX/SYD

[soak01]

I see on A.Net that DL have announced the start of Atlanta / Los Angeles / Sydney services using a 777 from 1 July 2009. Can't seem to get any results from either the NWA or DL websites to confirm. Has anyone heard anything?

Looks like another dent to SQ aspirations to fly SYD/LAX

[SQflyergirl]

Looks more like a dent to VA than to SQ.

They're using a 77L IIRC

[KeithMEL]

http://www.theage.com.au/travel/delt...xs.html?page=1

The world's biggest carrier Delta Air Lines has confirmed its plans to launch flights from Los Angeles to Sydney in July next year, a move tipped to trigger the first serious air fare battle on the Qantas-dominated route in more than a decade.

Delta announced overnight it would commence a daily Boeing 777-200 flight on the route on July 1.

Combined with V Australia's plans to fly to LA in February, Delta's arrival is not only expected to boost the number of seats on the route but also dramatically lower airfares.

V Australia already appears to have pre-empted Delta's announcement by slashing its fares by 45 per cent through its $1199 fare (including taxes) sale which was launched on Wednesday.

Delta is yet to announce what introductory fares it will offer from Sydney. But from the US, Delta is offering one-way fares from LA to Sydney for US$499 ($730) including taxes.

The launch of the Sydney service will make Delta the first US airline, since the now defunct Pan Am, to fly to six continents.

Delta has also held talks with Melbourne Airport. But one factor preventing Delta flying into Victoria is its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which do not have the range to fly to LA-Melbourne with a full-load.

...

Delta's entry could also thwart Singapore Airlines' hopes of ever gaining permission to fly the route. The Asian carrier has been attempting to gain entry on the route since 1996. Its appeals were knocked back by the Howard Government in 2007, when Virgin Blue signalled its intention to fly to LA. Early this month, Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said he would continue to block Singapore Air from the route despite Australia having a free trade agreement with the South East Asian nation.

A Singapore Airlines commissioned economic survey in 2005 claimed the lack of competition on the LA route was costing Australia $126 million in lost tourism revenue each year. The Econtech report claimed the entry of just one daily service by a new competitor - against Qantas and United - would bring 48,000 extra US tourists to Australia annually. The report also found that airfares on the LA route were substantially higher than those on the highly competitive Sydney-London route, where more than 30 airlines compete.

The study claimed economy fares per kilometre on the Los Angeles route were 17 per cent more expensive than for flights to London. The report said the fare per kilometre to Los Angeles (12,000 kilometres from Sydney) was 8.9c compared with 7.6c for London (20,000 kilometres from Sydney).

[9V-JKL]

A 77L does not have enough range to fly LAX-MEL

LAX-MEL is just under 8,000 miles. 77L's max payload range is 8,625 miles.

Are DL's 77Ls without the additional tanks?