Delta Air Lines will continue to deploy the Boeing 777-200ER on its Tokyo–Narita service, instead of replacing it with the B767-300ER, as originally planned.
The move is significant, as the US carrier appears to be downsizing most of its Asian operations out of Japan. As Business Traveller Asia-Pacific previously reported (see here), Delta will cut its existing Tokyo Narita–Hong Kong service from October 26. Furthermore, the Nagoya–Manila service will also be cancelled.
The change of plan therefore indicates that the Tokyo Narita- Singapore route is an important route for passengers connecting with the US.
The airline will also replace the existing Boeing 747-400 aircraft serving the Tokyo Narita–Bangkok and Tokyo Narita–Taipei route with the smaller Airbus A330-300. With an ageing fleet that consists of 16 B747s, Delta is looking to gradually replace the jumbo jet with newer more fuel-efficient options. Four B747s are due to be retired by the end of the year.
The US carrier currently serves the Tokyo Narita–Singapore route with a single daily service. Flight DL167 departs Narita at 1755 and arrives in Singapore the following day at 0040. Meanwhile, the return service sees flight DL166 take off from Changi at 0655, before arriving back in Japan at 1430.
For more information, visit delta.com
Clement Huang
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