The Boeing 757-200 has been touted as one of the most versatile commercial aircraft. It is capable of flying long distances but also has exceptional short-field performance, allowing airlines to deploy the plane to a variety of destinations.
Atlanta-based
Delta Air Lines
is the largest operator of the aircraft type, with more than 100 examples of the -200 variant. It is also the only carrier that operates passenger flights with the aircraft at John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County, California.
Delta’s presence at SNA
The 757-200 is among the largest aircraft to operate at the Southern California airport. Delta has an adequate presence at SNA as its network comprises five destinations, all of which are hubs for the carrier. Among its mainline operations, Delta has long deployed Airbus narrowbodies at the airport. However, it has more recently adjusted to exclusively scheduling the A220-100 and A220-300 at SNA other than the 757. The two variants fly daily to the following destinations:
- Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Delta has operated the 757-200 between SNA and its main hub at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) for decades. According to aviation data and analytics provider Cirium, the aircraft will operate a total of 154 flights between ATL and SNA this month – 77 frequencies in each direction – offering 26,306 seats.
The airline will use two different versions of the aircraft on the route. One version, known as the “75S,” accommodates 168 passengers and features lie-flat beds. The other version is either the “75D” or “75H,” which both have 199 seats, including standard domestic first class recliner seats.
The other East Coast destination
The fifth destination served from SNA is Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), and the route is indeed solely operated by the 757-200. Unlike ATL, Delta’s DTW service was introduced in September 2017, according to Cirium. The airline first used its former 737-700s on the route, but began introducing 757-200s in February 2018. By March, Delta removed the 737-700s and has exclusively deployed the 757-200 between DTW and SNA ever since.
While demand may be satisfactory, it is not as robust as ATL since Delta has never operated daily flights on the DTW-SNA route. This month, the carrier has 20 flights scheduled in each direction, offering a total of 6,720 seats.
Photo: lorenzatx | Shutterstock
Beginning September 8th, the route will operate six times weekly – every day except Saturdays. Delta operated the same number of frequencies last month, but kept the route dark on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Other airlines that are sole operators of aircraft
Frequencies will increase in October to 26 in each direction and then will slump to 23 in November. Amid the busy holiday travel season in December, Delta has 56 scheduled flights between DTW and SNA. While the airline is the only operator of 757-200 passenger flights, Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines is the sole carrier to operate the A321neo at SNA. US Airways, which merged with American in 2013, formerly operated its 757-200s from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).
On the cargo side, UPS occasionally flies its 757-200 freighters from its hub at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF). FedEx Express also deploys the A300-600F, SNA’s largest aircraft.