Delta Airlines has placed an order for an additional 30 Airbus A321neos to its existing order book with Airbus, thereby taking the total number of outstanding order for the aircraft type to 155.
Delta states that the A321neo is its most fuel-efficient large gauge narrowbody aircraft and is well-suited to complement its domestic network.
The airline is converting purchase rights for the aircraft into firm orders under its existing A321neo purchase agreement with Airbus. It follows a similar transaction in April, when Delta and Airbus converted 25 A321neo purchase rights into firm orders and added 25 incremental A321neo options.
Mahendra Nair, Senior Vice President – Fleet and TechOps Supply Chain, Delta, said:
Adding these aircraft strengthens Delta’s commitment to replacing older fleets with more sustainable, fuel-efficient jets, and offers the best customer experience in the industry. Delta appreciates the extensive partnership with the Airbus team in support of our strategic growth plans, and we look forward to continuing to work together throughout the recovery and in the years ahead.
Delta already operates 121 Airbus A321ceo, and with the incremental A321neos announced today has purchase commitments of 155 firm A321neo, in addition to 5 remaining A321ceo deliveries. The Atlanta-based airline has purchase rights for an additional 70 A321neos.
In total, Delta now has 288 aircraft on order, including both widebody and narrowbody aircraft. This includes Airbus A220, Airbus A330 and Airbus A350.
The carrier expects to take delivery of first of these A321neos in the first half of 2022, with deliveries of these aircraft continuing through 2027. Many of Delta’s A321neos will be delivered from the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile, Alabama. The airline has taken delivery of 87 U.S.-manufactured Airbus aircraft since 2016.
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Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer, Airbus, said:
Our partners at Delta are underscoring the strategic role the A321neo will play as the highly efficient platform for Delta’s renowned customer service and reliability for many years into the future.
The A321neo is powered by next-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines, which achieve 12% better fuel efficiency on a per-seat basis than the A321ceo aircraft. Delta TechOps technicians will maintain these engines at its advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Atlanta.
Delta’s Airbus A321neo will consist of 20 First Class seats, 42 Delta Comfort+ seats and 132 in Main Cabin seats, totalling 194 seats. The new aircraft will be deployed across Delta’s domestic network, complementing Delta’s existing Airbus A321ceo fleet of 121 aircraft.
The A321neos’ interior will feature thoughtful touches throughout, including new First Class seating design that includes a larger and sturdier tray table, more stowage space for personal items and enhanced memory foam cushions. All passengers will have access to Delta’s wireless In-Flight Entertainment system created by Delta’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta Flight Products, at every seat, spacious overhead bins, and state-of-the-art HEPA cabin air filtration systems as well as access to Wi-Fi and power ports.
Recently, United also ordered 70 Airbus A321neos along with 200 Boeing B737MAXs.
Meanwhile, Delta recently announced that it is buying 36 used aircraft amid travel demand recovery. The airline recently returned to London Heathrow’s Terminal 3 and also increased flights to Europe. Delta has increased flights to Canada as the country is now open to travellers from the United States.
Featured image by Delta
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