Delta Orders 30 More A321neo Aircraft

Delta Air Lines has added 30 incremental A321neo aircraft to its existing order book with Airbus. The A321neo is Delta’s most fuel-efficient large-gauge narrowbody aircraft.

“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,” Mahendra Nair, Delta’s senior vice president of fleet and techops supply chain said in a statement.

“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 A321neo is powered by next-generation Pratt & Whitney PW1100G turbofan engines, which achieve 12 percent better fuel efficiency on a per-seat basis than the A321ceo aircraft. The engines will be maintained by Delta TechOps technicians at its advanced maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Atlanta.

For the pilots, the flight deck and operating procedures for the A321ceo are identical to the A318, A319 and A320, and can be flown under a single type rating.

“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,” Christian Scherer, Airbus chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

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 A321neo options.

In total, Delta now has 288 aircraft purchase commitments, including both widebody and narrowbody jets.

Delta expects to take delivery of its first A321neo 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.

Delta’s A321neos will be equipped with total seating for 194 customers with 20 in first class, 42 in Delta Comfort+ and 132 in the main cabin. The new aircraft will be deployed across Delta’s extensive domestic network, complementing the airline’s existing Airbus A321ceo fleet of 121 aircraft.