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Delta Air Lines orders 40 new Airbus aircraft

Sept. 5, 2013, Atlanta, Ga. - American carrier Delta Air Lines has placed an order for 40 Airbus aircraft worth nearly $5.6 billion at list prices, marking a strong return to Airbus since Delta's last order 20 year ago.


September 5, 2013  By Carey Fredericks

Scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2017, the Airbus jets included in the order are 10 international widebody A330-300 and 30 large domestic narrowbody A321 jets.

The U.S.-based airline has chosen CFM56-5B engines from CFM International for its A321s and CF6-80E1 engines from GE Aviation to power its new A330 flights.

The latest order is part of Delta's fleet renewal plan in order to enhance profitability, while carefully managing capacity.

Delta chief executive officer Richard Anderson said that the Airbus agreement is another opportunistic fleet transaction for the company, which acquires economically efficient, proven-technology aircraft.

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"These A330s and A321s will provide tremendous flexibility for Delta to optimally manage our capacity over the next five years while further improving the flight experience for our customers and returns for our shareholders," Anderson said.

The delivery of first A330 is scheduled for the first quarter of 2015, with three other aircraft scheduled for the same year, four in 2016, and the last two in 2017.

Delta will be the first carrier to operate the improved 242t A330-300, which provides up to 500 nautical miles of extra range, with a capacity to carry nearly five metric tonne additional payload compared with the previous 235 tonne A330-300.

Delta will use the aircraft capability to optimise its Pacific and Atlantic networks.

The 30 A321s will expand Delta's current fleet of 126 A320-range domestic aircraft, with first three A321s scheduled for delivery in Q1 2016.

The company will receive 12 more flights in the same year, with the remaining 15 jets scheduled for 2017.

All of Delta's A321s will have Sharklets, the lightweight composite wingtip devices that provide nearly four per cent fuel-burn savings, offering the flexibility of either adding 100 nautical mile range or increased payload capability of nearly 1,000 pounds.

Delta's A321s will have a capacity to accommodate 190 people in two classes.
Currently, Delta operates a large Airbus fleet, including 126 A320 family aircraft and 32 A330 flights.

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