Delta hopes to bolster its fleet with order for 40 Airbus planes
DELTA Air Lines yesterday ordered 40 Airbus planes in a deal valued at about $5.6bn (£3.58bn) at list prices.
The order includes 30 A321 narrowbody planes as well as 10 A330-300 widebody aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2015 and 2017.
Delta operates a fleet of Boeing and Airbus planes. The deal marks Delta’s first purchase with Airbus in around two years.
“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,” said chief executive Richard Anderson.
Airbus said many of the planes will be assembled at its new plant in Mobile, Alabama, which is due to produce its first aircraft in 2016.
Airlines are typically offered large discounts on the list prices when ordering in bulk.
Delta, the world’s largest airline by passenger numbers, last year agreed a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic on London-New York routes.