A Delta spokeswoman said: ‘As a result of the increase in fuel prices over the last year, Delta is aggressively working to ensure that routes are operating as fuel-efficiently as possible. Scotland remains an important market in Delta’s effort to boost international service, including plans to grow international capacity by double digits in 2008.’
Judging by Boeing's payload/range charts for the 757 (on their web site), EDI-ATL was only possible with a significant payload restriction, especially westbound i.e. no cargo and often many seat rows would need to be blocked out. Either that or a fuel stop would be needed. With rising fuel prices, I expect that the fuel cost per paying passenger made the route uneconomic to operate using the 757.
Even with lower fuel costs, does the 757 have the necessary payload/range performance and cost base to fly such a long route economically?