Anyone have any thoughts on the future plans of Delta adding the flatbed seats to their current 777-ER fleet or if/when the new 777-LRs will actually arrive.

In this economy, as expected, Delta is behind schedule and I wonder if, with the new merger with NWA, "plans may have changed".

(Eg. of a odd change... Delta flight 801 from ATL-NRT starting in May is on a 747 "operated by NWA" but is not listed as a flight option on the NWA website)

Delta has already taken delivery of several 777LRs.

They should have at least 2 77Ls now. And the route they're definitely on is ATL-BOM. They may also substitute for other routes at times.

Any holdups are not the result of the merger, but with a shortage of planes. DL has aggressively expanded the routes that utilize the 777s and simply doesn't have the capacity to take any out of service. My guess is that, once they get one or two more 777LRs in, that the pace will pick up. Since there are so few 777ERs, I would think that the conversion process should go quickly once they can get even a couple more planes to take the load off.

The next pair of 77Ls they receive should be for new ATL-JNB service.

Thanks for the replies. I should have clarified that I was aware that the 1st two 777LR were delivered and were flying to India. I was wondering about the remainder of the "order" and the fact they originally said they would be converting the older 777s to this seating plan "by the end of 2008" (maybe I remember that wrong).

I am flying the ATL-PVG flight in Oct, 2009 and HOPE that they switch over by then.