Delta Orders 37 More Airbus A321s

Delta Air Lines has reached an agreement with Airbus to acquire 37 additional A321s as part of its efforts to renew its narrowbody fleet.

The fuel-efficient A321s will replace older-generation jets, including the MD-88.

Delta has also just signed a deal to become the U.S. launch customer for Bombardier's C-Series small narrowbody aircraft.

"The Airbus A320 family of aircraft continues to be a cost-efficient, reliable and customer-pleasing mainstay of our narrowbody fleet," said Ed Bastian, Delta's incoming chief executive. "The order for the A321s is an opportunistic fleet move that enables us to produce strong returns and cost-effectively accelerate the retirement of Delta's 116 MD-88s in a capital efficient manner."

The additional Airbus A321s, which are being acquired near the end of the model's production cycle, increases Delta's A321 fleet to 82 and is consistent with the company's previously announced domestic fleet plan.

The 37 aircraft will be delivered concurrently with existing A321 orders through 2019.

Delta's A321s will feature an all-new interior with cabin elements including high-capacity overhead bins, the latest in inflight entertainment, full spectrum LED ambient lighting, standard 110v power available at every row, as well as inflight Wi-Fi and Delta Studio. The A321s will also feature wingtip Sharklets, which will provide up to 4% improvement in fuel efficiency.

The additional Airbus 321s will join 126 A320 Family aircraft—featuring CFM56 engines—already flying in Delta's fleet.

The airline took delivery of its first A321 in March with the inaugural flight scheduled to depart Monday, 2 May 2016 between Atlanta and Orlando, Fla. 

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