Delta raises fleet with 30 airbus A321neos

Delta continues to upgrade its fleet, adding 30 incremental A321 neoaircraft to its existing order book with Airbus.

This transaction has further positioned the airline as a leader in the recovery, and beyond, with its cutting-edge, reliable and lower-emissions fleet, while reinforcing Delta’s strategic fleet objectives to boost operational simplification, achieve economies of scale and drive productivity.

Delta’s S.V.P. – Fleet and TechOps Supply Chain, Mahendra Nair, 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.”

The state-of-the-art A321neo is Delta’s most fuel-efficient large gauge narrow body aircraft and is well suited to complement Delta’s leading domestic network. Delta 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 A321neooptions. Delta operates 121 of the larger gauge A321ceo family, and with the incremental A321neos announced has purchase commitments of 155 firm A321neo, in addition to six remainingA321ceodeliveries. Delta has purchase rights for an additional 70 A321neos. These purchase commitments according to the airline look ahead to Delta’s future needs, supporting replacement of older, less fuel-efficient narrow-body aircraft. In total, Delta now has 288 aircraft purchase commitments, including both wide-body and narrow body jets.

Delta said it expects to take delivery of its firstA321neo in the first half of 2022, with deliveries of these aircraft continuing through 2027. Many of Delta’sA321neos 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 since2016. “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,” said Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, Christian Scherer.