Delta Air Lines has firmed up options for 12 more Airbus A220-300s, taking Delta to 60 outstanding A220-300 orders. The efficient single-aisle jets will begin arriving from 2026 through 2027 as Delta enters an exciting period of narrowbody fleet renewal.

Delta boosts A220-300 order

The airline has exercised an option for another 12 Airbus A220-300s, all of which are due for delivery by the end of 2027. Today's announcement follows from last year's firm-up of another 12 of the type. As Simple Flying reported in July 2022 at the Farnborough Air Show, Delta boosted its A220 order with another 12 jets after making headlines with its order for 100 Boeing 737 MAXs.

Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, said,

"Delta Air Lines was the U.S. launch customer for the A220 and this fourth reorder in just four years by a leading carrier as Delta is a most gratifying endorsement. The aircraft is currently connecting Delta passengers on more than 100 routes at 25% less fuel and CO2 emissions. If you want to connect today and tomorrow, you can’t do any better!"

Kristen Bojko, Vice President of Fleet at Delta Air Lines, added,

"These 12 additional A220 aircraft will help power our increasingly streamlined fleet while also providing our customers with the elevated in-flight experience they’ve come to expect from Delta."

A220 fleet to exceed 100 aircraft

Before today's announcement, the carrier had a firm order for 48 more A220-300s on top of the 14 it has already welcomed, equaling 62 in total. With another 12 of the type, Delta will eventually operate 74 of the -300 variant. This will be on top of the 45 shorter Airbus A220-100 variants currently in service with Delta, taking the Atlanta-based carrier to 119 total A220s.

Delta said of its A220 fleet,

"The expansion of Delta’s A220 family is an important step towards the airline’s ongoing efforts on fleet simplification, while investing in more sustainable aircraft that provide a best-in-class customer experience."

As the US launch customer, Delta Air Lines has grown into the largest operator of the Airbus A220 in the world, with 59 of the jets currently in service. The airline currently operates 415 Airbus planes, including Airbus A320-family jets, the Airbus A330, and Airbus A350, and has a sizeable outstanding order for 134 Airbus A321neos. The carrier has almost as many Boeing planes (currently at over 375), and this is before its huge order for 100 (+30 options) Boeing 737 MAX 10s has entered the delivery stage.

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Onboard Delta's A220-300

Delta's A220-300s offer a two-class configuration with a capacity for 130 passengers, 12 in business class and 118 in economy, while its shorter A220-100s can seat 109 passengers. The carrier welcomed its first A220-300 (registration: N302DU) in October 2020, two years after inducting its first A220-100. According to Planespotters.net, the airline's entire A220 fleet has an average age of fewer than three years. It is easy to see why Delta is so excited about the potential of this narrowbody.

The quiet and efficient Airbus A220 has proven a hit with airlines and passengers worldwide - at the time of publication, there are almost 250 of the jets in service with 16 airlines globally. The A220-300, powered by Pratt & Whitney's GTF engines, provides up to 25% better fuel efficiency than retiring aircraft in its class and a range of up to 3,450nm (6,390km).

Have you flown on one of Delta's Airbus A220-300s? What do you think of the aircraft? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Planespotters.net

• 

  Airbus

  Stock Code:

  AIR

  Date Founded:

  1970-12-18

  CEO:

  Guillaume Faury

  Headquarters Location:

  Toulouse, France

  Key Product Lines:

  Airbus A220, Airbus A320, Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380

  Business Type:

  Planemaker