Besides serving as a home base, Felta’s operation at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport boasts a sizeable Latin American network via its SkyTeam partnership with Aeroméxico and Aerolíneas Argentinas, as well as its significant stake in LATAM Airlines. In this network are the carrier’s southernmost destinations, the furthest south of which we’re flying to aboard one of Delta’s medium to long-haul stalwarts, the Airbus A330-900neo.
Server: Solo
Airline: Delta Air Lines
Aircraft: Airbus A330-900neo
Origin: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
Destination: Ministro Pistarini International Airport, Ezeiza, Argentina (EZE)
Flight Number: DL101
Route: KATL-SAEZ
Seat: 8A (Delta One)
Time En Route: 10 Hours 12 Minutes
Boarding at Gate E26 in Atlanta. In recent years, the A330-900neo has started to gradually supplant the older A330-200s and -300s, as well as the 767s, on Delta’s South American routes.
Taxiing by some pretty packed F Gates. The Delta Team USA A350-900 is spending the night here after arriving from Seoul as DL26.
Trent 7000s roaring as we get airborne from Runway 27R. We’re in the rearmost Delta One seat tonight, 8A, just forward of the No. 2 port exit door. Due to the odd number of business class seats on DL’s A330-900neos, it’s somewhat strange having no seats off to our right.
Moonrise near Macon in Central Georgia. At climb thrust, the Trents produce a pleasant, almost soothing rumble, albeit not as deep as its XWB sibling or the GE90. Back to the subject of our seat, it’s a slightly narrower version of Delta’s A350 product, owing to the narrower fuselage diameter of the A330 family. This notwithstanding, we still have a fully-enclosed suite with sliding doors, and the seat fully reclines to become a lie-flat bed. Unless Delta upgauged to a 35H-configured A350, there’s no more spacious and comfortable way to get from Atlanta to Buenos Aires.
Cruising over Miami, with the lights of Opa Locka Airport glittering beneath us. We just finished up a delicious dinner of José Andrés’ braised beef short rib, served with smoky pepper sauce, creamy polenta, haricot verts, and piquillo peppers. Now to settle back, relax, and get some sleep as we head to South America!
Waking up after a few hours of sleep over the far western Brazilian state of Acre. Delta’s A330-900neo hard product is, as usual, excellent for sleeping in.
Final descent into Ezeiza over rural Argentina. Much of this land is devoted to cattle farming, with beef exports forming a cornerstone of the national economy.
Morning arrival in Buenos Aires! It’s a beautiful day here in the Queen of El Plata.
Clear of the runway and taxiing on the port engine to the terminal
Disembarked at Gate 7. It’s been a few months since we’ve been to Buenos Aires and a bit of time since we’ve flown in Delta One on an A330 as well. Good to be back in the Paris of South America!