Delta to pull some older jets from NYC by thinning 717 fleet

Delta will pare its fleet of Boeing 717 jets by at least half over the next year, continuing to cull older, more costly planes amid the collapse in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The change means Delta will stop flying the 110-passenger plane in Minneapolis and the New York City area, according to a memo sent to pilots May 15. New York service will move to Airbus SE A220s and A320s, while Minneapolis flights will be made on A320s and Boeing 737s. The move toward newer, more fuel-efficient planes that need less maintenance highlights the ongoing shift of equipment and employees at US carriers amid a drop of more than 90% in demand from a year ago and uncertainty about when passengers will return. Delta already has said it would retire its Boeing MD-88 and MD-90 aircraft and Boeing 777 planes by the end of this year. That will leave a surplus of pilots at the Atlanta-based carrier.<br/>