Delta Said Goodbye To 30-Year-Old Widebody On Hawaii Route

Delta Air Lines recently made a strategic upgrade on one of its long-haul Hawaii routes, this one between Detroit and Honolulu. According to FlightAware, it swapped its aged Boeing 767 with newer Airbus A330 planes, which took effect late last month.

This change will boost capacity for this popular Delta route to Hawaii. But there’s more significance here:

As of May 2024, Delta’s entire fleet has an average age of 14.9 years, making it the second-oldest among U.S. legacy carriers. This fleet age is due to Delta’s balancing of cost-efficiency and passenger experience.

Delta addresses fleet age with some more modern aircraft.

The transition from Delta’s Boeing 767-300, which has an average age of 28 years, to the Airbus A330-300 is a significant move for Delta as it modernizes its fleet, including on Hawaii flights.

For instance, while Delta’s A330-300 aircraft have an average age of 14.4 years, the airline has invested in newer models on Hawaii routes, like its A321neos, which boast an average age of under five years. Their older fleets, including their Boeing 717 planes, are in the process of being phased out, while Hawaiian/Alaska is still flying them.

Delta’s approach to cost management has historically involved investing in modern aircraft to meet consumer expectations for comfort and connectivity, with a strong focus on long-haul routes, which it prioritizes over short-haul.

Boosted capacity and efficiency with fewer flights.

The A330’s seating configuration allows Delta to increase capacity yet do so on fewer flights. Despite reducing the number of flights compared to last year, the Detroit to Honolulu seat count will increase by thousands compared to the when it used its smaller 767s.

Improved passenger experience on the A330-300.

Passengers on this route can look forward to improved amenities across all cabin classes. The A330-300, with its 282-seat configuration, offers Delta One business class lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 arrangement, each with direct aisle access for premium passengers.

The Delta premium economy product, Premium Select, is on the new flights, providing more comfortable seats with a improved seat pitch and better service for those seeking some improvement over economy. The same can be said to a lesser degree with the Comfort+ extra legroom economy seats.

The A330 does feature seat-back personal entertainment screens, WiFi, and in-seat power. The in-flight experience is a considerable improvement from the 767-300ER, and should appeal to Delta flyers on the 9+ hour route, where any additional modicum of comfort is needed and valued.

Hawaii traveler reactions.

The change has garnered varied responses from Delta’s frequent flyers we’ve talked with. Some passengers are excited about the newer and larger A330 plane upgrade, especially those flying in Delta One and Premium Select options who can best enjoy improved seating and amenities.

On the other hand, some friends mentioned they still preferred the 767’s roomy economy layout and may miss the 767’s to them more spacious feel in the main cabin.

Online forums and social media discussions reflect these mixed sentiments, with some travelers highlighting the A330’s age, more modern design, and expanded options in premium cabins.

The A330’s updated seating and amenities may eventually win over customers, especially those who prefer modern planes and in-flight features. The 767 features a 2-3-2 arrangement in economy, whereas the 330 has a 2-4-2 configuration.

For this Delta Hawaii route, the A330-300 represents a step forward in terms of Delta’s island passenger experience and operational efficiency, using planes of about half the prior fleet’s age. This contributes to Delta’s strategy of investing in newer, more capable aircraft as it continues to update its fleet.

If you are a frequent flyer with Delta, what is your reaction to the airline’s Hawaii news?