Delta Air Lines acquired its Boeing 747s largely through its 2009 merger with Northwest Airlines. Before the merger, Northwest operated a fleet of 747-400s. When Delta and Northwest combined operations, the 747s transferred into Delta’s fleet. The inherited 747s were used on long-haul routes, especially across the Pacific, until Delta gradually retired the type. The 747-400s were phased out as part of Delta’s fleet modernization plans, which aimed to replace four-engine super-jumbos with more fuel-efficient twin-engine widebodies.
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