Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order with Airbus for 30 A321ceo (current engine option) and 10 A330-300 aircraft. This order, estimated value of $5.6 billion at list prices, marks a strong return to Airbus since Delta’s last order more than two decades ago. The airline has selected CFM56-5B engines from CFM International to power its A321s and CF6-80E1 engines from GE Aviation for its new A330s. Deliveries of Delta’s new A330s are slated to begin in 2015, and its first A321 is scheduled for 1Q 2016 delivery. The last of the aircraft are scheduled for delivery by 2017.
As a result of the merger of Delta and Northwest Airlines, Delta currently operates a large Airbus fleet, including 126 A320 Family aircraft, plus 32 A330s.
All of Delta’s A321s will feature Sharklets – lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer up to 4% fuel-burn savings, providing the flexibility of either adding 100nm range or increased payload capability of nearly 1000 lb (up to 450kg).
Many of Delta’s A321s are expected to be assembled at the brand-new Airbus assembly line in Mobile, Ala., currently under construction and scheduled to deliver its first aircraft in 2016. The facility represents a $600 million dollar investment in the Gulf Coast region, and will provide 1,000 new jobs in that community.
The A321 is the largest member of the A320 single-aisle family, and Delta’s A321s will seat 190 people in two classes. To date, over 9,800 A320 family aircraft have been ordered and more than 5,600 delivered to nearly 390 customers and operators.
To grow its widebody fleet, Delta has selected the 242-metric-ton version of the A330-300, which benefits from up to 500nm of extra range and the ability to carry nearly five metric tons more payload than the previous 235-metric-ton A330-300. Delta’s A330-300s will seat 293 passengers in two classes. More than 1,250 A330s have been ordered to date worldwide.