NWA bids adieu to DC-10s on transatlantic flights

NWA bids adieu to DC-10s on transatlantic flights
Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal - 2:58 PM CST Monday

Northwest Airlines Corp. has retired the last of its DC-10 planes from international flights, shifting its focus to the Airbus 330 for transatlantic flights.

Northwest began using the A330 wide-body aircraft in August of 2003. The new aircraft dominated most of its transatlantic schedule, but in June of this year Northwest announced A330s would be replacing all remaining DC10s.

The newer Airbus planes include more amenities for passengers -- better seating, on-demand video offerings and the like. They also save Northwest about 30 percent on fuel costs and have lower maintenance costs. Northwest has been trying to reduce its use of fuel-guzzling DC-9s and DC-10s

Northwest has an A330 fleet of 11 A330-30s with 298 seats and 11 longer-range A330-200s with 243 seats. Northwest has ordered ten more planes, scheduled to arrive between now and the end of the year.

I was so sad to hear about the DC-10s leaving. I've been hoping that I'd get the chance to see them before they are retired.

HOWEVER, I'm excited to learn that ATA will be buying the former NW Dc-10s as an L-1011 replacement.

WOOOOOOOO!

I can't wait to see them in ATA colors. I think they are receiving about 8 of them.