Delta Flies New Route to Profits: Older Jets, published in today’s Wall Street Journal (paid subscription required or free metered view).
After reading this article, this author has a strong sense that Delta management understands how leveraging integrated capabilities in deep operations and supply chain expertise can influence business outcomes. It is also a great study in bucking accepted industry practices and thinking outside the norm.
Case in point, the WSJ points out that while emerging discount carriers pursue a strategy of standardized aircraft and are in a rush to acquire the latest in more fuel efficient and technology sophisticated aircraft, t[b]he Delta aircraft fleet is both old and complex, with an average fleet age at over 16 years. That compares to Jet Blue’s average fleet age of 6 years, or Southwest Airlines average of 11 years. According to the WSJ, among Delta’s total of 725 aircraft, there are over 10 different models, including 19 DC-9’s with an average age of 34.4 years. [/b]Delta just acquired and is refurbishing 49 used McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft to add to its feet, along with 88 Boeing 717’s formerly flown by Air-Tran Airways, now acquired by Southwest, whose fleet is standardized on the Boeing 737 aircraft. Thus far this year, the airline has run 86.3 percent of its domestic flights on-time, fourth among the top 15 U.S. air carriers, and according to the WSJ, the largest fleet profile airline to be most punctual. Delta is eschewing the much higher capital costs of new aircraft acquisition with a belief that older aircraft, while older and more expensive to operate, can be more reliable if supported by a robust maintenance and inspection program.

Am suprised people are not happy this initiative is taking off at last . . . Na we dey winch ourselves for this country . . .

jmaine: Am suprised people are not happy this initiative is taking off at last . . . Na we dey winch ourselves for this country . . .

Please reread Akanbi-edu's posts and just think about it a bit, that's all I ask of you. I know that you are not an unreasonable person or a known jobber, please think well and digest the post.

ROSSIKE:

Do you think brand new aircraft are like tomatoes you go and pick in the market?

You have to place orders for them before they are even built!! And the waiting period post-order can take anything from 3 to 5 years!!!

Goodness!

See lame excuse


A forceful takeover is becoming more and more inevitable. These people need to be expunged from our midst

ndu_chucks:

Please reread Akanbi-edu's posts and just think about it a bit, that's all I ask of you. I know that you are not an unreasonable person or a known jobber, please think well and digest the post.




See lame excuse


A forceful takeover is becoming more and more inevitable. These people need to be expunged from our midst

now pls read kmariko's post directly above u and be enlightened

fabulous4u:
now pls read kmariko's post directly above u and be enlightened

Oga, you missed my point completely. What a pity.


Anyway, can you show us that the airlines mentioned in the post you wanted me to read, started their inaugural flights with 16 - 20 years old aircrafts? That should butress the point you are making, if not, you need to try another angle.

theoctopus: Stop these your attacks on Oduah! It will only make you guys look more silly. You are making it too glaring that it is a campaign of hate. The new carrier is taking off with 20 planes, not 1. So this news is crap!

Obviously, u were too lazy to read the whole article and realize that the complaint is that at least one of these air vehicles is over 20+yrs old. Typical Nigerian.

Ngwakwe: 20 years old aircraft can be new aircraft depending on approved standards.

What has been the rate of usage?

Refurbished or/and Upgraded?

Were the Engines changed with new types?

Extended Maintenance should be the keyword.

The problem with some peeps is their literal interpretation of the word Refurbish and Upgrade.

Dude, a country as rich as Nigeria, floating an airline... 20yrs+ old planes is like gambling with people's lives.

gurnam:

No matter how good you maintain it....a 20 yrs old aircraft can't be the same as a new aircraft...that is common sense.

Are we saying Nigeria cannot afford to buy brand new aircrafts for the new national carrier.

Why must they always set the standard low when it concerns other Nigerians...but will go for the best money can buy from any part of the world when the thieving elites are involved?

Are we not humans like them?

lmaooo Thank You.

Nigerians have been so severely and mentally battered, they don't even know what's good for them anymore and will gladly accept crumbs and rotten food in exchange.

Chima_Agbalajob: The aviation hawks bent on denying Nigeria a national carrier are already on it, spewing their deceit.
Anyone trying to help Nigeria become a normal country must be framed with intent of corruption and insulted.
The plane being showed is an Aero Contractor plane painted in the insigna of the new national carrier. Former Aero contractor airlines forms part of the new national carrier.

Nigeria a land of dead corpses.I have come to truly hate some Nigerians.

What's this one saying and who are the 3 clowns that liked this nonsense?

Sincere 9gerian:
APC chief propagandist, why are you focused on a single aircraft out of about 24 aircrafts which the proposed national carrier would take off with? Why are you not fixated on the 10 brand new aircrafts that will be delivered next year? Ok, because it suits your pay master to highlight the age of just one out of 24 aircrafts?

By the way, the articles you posted shows there are divergent opinions on the issue of age of aircrafts and nothing more. There are yet no concrete or definite position taken on the issue. When those who manufacture and sell these aircrafts to us take a definite position on the matter, then your propaganda can be justified. Or are you or your master claiming to be more knowledgeable than the manufacturers? For now, since there are still over 20 year old aircrafts flying in Europe and America, then there is nothing wrong in having such aircrafts here provided they'r well maintained. And aviation is a global industry that is regulated by international bodies. When these bodies are convinced that age is an issue, they will do the needful and Nigeria will comply. Tinubu rules or wishes do not apply.

You are very dunce, the reason why he is fixated on this particular aircraft is because this is the flagship, this is the first aircraft, this is the one that flies with the name brand of "Nigerian Eagle" on it, it is like saying, that the first car being driven by the president, should not be fixated on, because there are 24 other cars in his convoy, sorry to say this but you are duncer(if there is such a word) than TINUBU.
Why are you so fixated on TINUBU, why? why can't you focus on what your boss is doing, stupid so stup.id, how much do you get paid please tell us, i wouldn't mind working.

Sincere 9gerian:
How can we separate Tinubu from the matter at hand when you'r doing his bidding? You claim to want to stay on theme but all you'v done from your first post that quoted me was to attack Sincere 9gerian? Is that part of the theme as dictated by your master, Tinubu? You should be ashamed of yourself. There is no law that forbids the use of aircrafts older than 20 years anywhere in world. What is more important is air-worthiness of the aircraft. If 20 year old aircrafts are still being used in Europe and US, why should you and your master, Tinubu, insist that the standard should be different in Nigeria? More over, the aircraft in question is just one out of 24 others. In addition, orders have been placed for 10 new ones. So why did you pick on that one, neglecting the rest? Because it suits your devilish political agenda? Shame on you.

Is the maintenance culture the same with the U.S? Not too long ago ur First Lady's mother died due to bad roads...

At least mandate all govt officials to fly this new airline and watch the planes go from 100yrs old to brand new.

Sincere 9gerian:
They are all bunch of sore losers who contributed in one or other to the problems with Nigeria. Now that some people are making efforts to clean up the mess they made of the country, all the losers do is jump from pillar to post looking for faults. They'r now professional fault finders. They already lost again in Anambra election and they'll remain LOSERS all their life.

Dude, u spend 24hrs a day praising fellow men. If u don't do that, u starve. And u dare call others losers?! Lool what's the definition of a loser to u?

ROSSIKE:

Do you think brand new aircraft are like tomatoes you go and pick in the market?

You have to place orders for them before they are even built!! And the waiting period post-order can take anything from 3 to 5 years!!!

Goodness!

What a daft post!

The fact that is not tomatoes is the exact reason why it is inappropriate for a national carrier to purchase planes that are 20 years old- considering that the planes would not be transporting vegetables but human beings.

There is no rush in inaugurating a national airline if the mode of transportation is inadequate, it defeats the whole purpose if it will lead to huge maintenance costs and in a worst case scenario fatalities in the medium-long run.

When was the project started? I am sure it has been over 3 years, why didn't they order it then? Did they have a project plan in place? We have witnessed several air mishaps under this government and one would have imagined that they would taken serious efforts to ensure the quality of the planes to avoid future crashes.

Even low budget airlines in Europe and America will not start their business with 20 year old planes not to talk of a National Air carrier. It is clear that the GEJ administration is trying to score cheap political points while knowingly mortgaging the safety of Nigerians. They do this because they can attribute their failure to God as Madam Stelar indicated after the air crashes that have occurred under her watch.

Let us ask ourselves, what is the age of the Presidential plane? Will he fly in a 20 year old plane in an international flight that lasts over 6 hours?

It is only an irresponsible and vile person that would not object to this despicable act by GEJ and his Minister of Aviation

kingoflag: Dude, u spend 24hrs a day praising fellow men. If u don't do that, u starve. And u dare call others losers?! Lool what's the definition of a loser to u?

a loser is someone who out of frustration results to insults in a debate meant for intellectuals and sound minds
after meeting the criteria I hereby present to you this award as the chief loser of nairaland .....congratulations

Italiano1:


What a daft post!

The fact that is not tomatoes is the exact reason why it is inappropriate for a national carrier to purchase planes that are 20 years old- considering that the planes would not be transporting vegetables but human beings.

There is no rush in inaugurating a national airline if the mode of transportation is inadequate, it defeats the whole purpose if it will lead to huge maintenance costs and in a worst case scenario fatalities in the medium-long run.

When was the project started? I am sure it has been over 3 years, why didn't they order it then? Did they have a project plan in place? We have witnessed several air mishaps under this government and one would have imagined that they would taken serious efforts to ensure the quality of the planes to avoid future crashes.

Even low budget airlines in Europe and America will not start their business with 20 year old planes not to talk of a National Air carrier. It is clear that the GEJ administration is trying to score cheap political points while knowingly mortgaging the safety of Nigerians. They do this because they can attribute their failure to God as Madam Stelar indicated after the air crashes that have occurred under her watch.

Let us ask ourselves, what is the age of the Presidential plane? Will he fly in a 20 year old plane in an international flight that lasts over 6 hours?

It is only an irresponsible and vile person that would not object to this despicable act by GEJ and his Minister of Aviation

why is it so hard for some people to reason and comment like intellectuals ?
fact 1:there is no country in the world that has banned the use of old planes
fact 2:most major airlines in the world have a mix of old and new planes in their fleet
fact 3:no international aviation standards regulatory body has mentioned that old aircrafts are more prone to accidents
fact 4:Nigeria got accredited as having one of the safest aviation practices in the world by icao with this old aircrafts
so get your facts right before commenting or u begin to sound silly.

kingoflag: Dude, a country as rich as Nigeria, floating an airline... 20yrs+ old planes is like gambling with people's lives.

dude a country as rich as the UK has no problem with it .....please stop been silly and hyperactive over nothing

GeneralJ:
You are very dunce, the reason why he is fixated on this particular aircraft is because this is the flagship, this is the first aircraft, this is the one that flies with the name brand of "Nigerian Eagle" on it, it is like saying, that the first car being driven by the president, should not be fixated on, because there are 24 other cars in his convoy, sorry to say this but you are duncer(if there is such a word) than TINUBU.
Why are you so fixated on TINUBU, why? why can't you focus on what your boss is doing, stupid so stup.id, how much do you get paid please tell us, i wouldn't mind working.

you e-rats keep changing the goal post ....now it no longer 'the plane is too old to fly' it is now 'it too old to be used for inaugural flight '
bunch of blockheads and failures
the transformation is on course and no force of retrogression can stop it

fabulous4u:
you e-rats keep changing the goal post ....now it no longer 'the plane is too old to fly' it is now 'it too old to be used for inaugural flight '
bunch of blockheads and failures
the transformation is on course and no force of retrogression can stop it

Actually, it is too old to fly, and way too old to be use for inaugural flight, this is a disgrace and endangerment of life.

To me, I thank this minister for all the changes and positive impact in the aviation sector.

gurnam:

No matter how good you maintain it....a 20 yrs old aircraft can't be the same as a new aircraft...that is common sense.

Are we saying Nigeria cannot afford to buy brand new aircrafts for the new national carrier.

Why must they always set the standard low when it concerns other Nigerians...but will go for the best money can buy from any part of the world when the thieving elites are involved?

Are we not humans like them?

So you didn't see where it was written that they've booked 10 plane which the delivery will start by March 2014¿

I would have been excited if i heard "5 brand new planes" rather than 20 used planes.

ba7man: I would have been excited if i heard "5 brand new planes" rather than 20 used planes.

have you ever had any reason to be happy in your entirely sad and pathetic life

fabulous4u:
dude a country as rich as the UK has no problem with it .....please stop been silly and hyperactive over nothing

Yes, because Nigeria and U.K have the same standard of maintenance culture and oversight structures.

fabulous4u:
a loser is someone who out of frustration results to insults in a debate meant for intellectuals and sound minds
after meeting the criteria I hereby present to you this award as the chief loser of nairaland .....congratulations

Ok, explain to me again how to communicate with a blockhead.

kingoflag: Yes, because Nigeria and U.K have the same standard of maintenance culture and oversight structures.

Nigerian aviation sector safety regulations was recently certified by ICAO as above average ,same goes for the UK.....so pls what is all this your ranting for?try and do some research before displaying your toxic ignorance here

kingoflag: Ok, explain to me again how to communicate with a blockhead.

you are their leader pls do the needful or quit with immediate effect

Flying coffin

Thank God I don't fly she buy bulletproof car for her own safety nd can buy better plane for Nigerians safety

gurnam:

No matter how good you maintain it....a 20 yrs old aircraft can't be the same as a new aircraft...that is common sense.

Are we saying Nigeria cannot afford to buy brand new aircrafts for the new national carrier.

Why must they always set the standard low when it concerns other Nigerians...but will go for the best money can buy from any part of the world when the thieving elites are involved?

Are we not humans like them?

This statement is illogical, Boeing recently grounded their new aircrafts because of engine faults in high altitude flights!

Maintenance elongates the life cycle of an machine

Gistboy: Odua: One of the few ministers that keep bringing positive changes in their respective sectors yet haterz are having sleepless night because of her.

praise singer. i hope she had done the needful in your life

In other words, Oduah to present flying coffin to Jonathan at national carrier inauguration

So, oduah is still functioning?
Does that mean the Yoruba propaganda didn't work after all?
Respect