On March 29th , Southwest ordered ordered 100 Boeing B737 MAX jets, alongside options for 155 more, and yesterday, Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 25 A321neo aircrafts.
The 25 A321neo (New Engine Option) aircrafts are in addition to Delta’s 2017 order of 100 A321neo aircraft .
In addition to this , Delta has also accelerated delivery of two A350-900 aircraft as well as two A330-900neo aircraft.
Engine Selection - The Geared Turbofan !
The A321neo (New Engine Option) aircrafts will be powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines.
The PW1100G-JM is a member of Pratt & Whitney's GTF (Geared Turbo Fan) engine family and powers the latest generation of narrowbody aircraft, the Airbus A320neo family.
The reduction gearbox between the fan and the low-pressure compressor, as well as the low-pressure turbine, enable lower fan pressure ratios, and, in turn, higher bypass ratios , that is key to the efficiency of the engine.
“With our customers ready to reclaim the joy of travel, this agreement positions Delta for growth while accounting for the planned retirements of older narrowbody aircraft in our fleet, reducing our carbon footprint, increasing efficiency and elevating the customer experience,” said Mahendra Nair, Delta’s Senior Vice President – Fleet Strategy. “We thank Airbus for their steadfast partnership during the pandemic and look forward to working with them as we take delivery of the A321neo as well as our accelerated A350 and A330-900neo deliveries.”
“We have managed the challenges of the last year together with our customers, and it is gratifying to be taking steps like this one towards the regrowth of our industry with our long standing partner, Delta", said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
Overall, A320neo Family aircraft deliver per-seat fuel improvements of 20%, along with additional range of up to 500 nautical miles or two metric tons of extra payload.
The A321neo shares 95% airframe commonality with the Airbus A320 Family, facilitating seamless integration into existing single-aisle fleets. The A321neo also shares a common type rating with the rest of the A320 Family, permitting A320 Family pilots to fly the A321neo without additional training.
This latest order from Delta Air Lines brings the A321neo’s total order since introduction to nearly 3,500, with more than 500 aircraft already in fleets around the world
"The latest trends in demand are encouraging," said Glen Hauenstein a few days ago. He is responsible for network and sales at Delta Air Lines. With increasing vaccination numbers and decreasing travel restrictions, passengers would regain confidence in air travel, he said. And so, in the meantime, 85 percent of the booking level of 2019 has been achieved in Germany.
The Airbus confidence is reflected in a new order. Delta has increased its order for Airbus A321 Neo by a quarter, or 25 additional aircraft, as announced on Thursday evening (April 22nd).
"This agreement positions Delta for growth and at the same time takes into account the planned retirement of older aircraft in the fleet", the company said in the announcement regarding the increase in the order.
So far not a single Airbus A321 Neo from the bulk order has been delivered to Delta . Delta has agreed with Airbus not to take over the first copy untill 2022.
Picture - Airbus.
