Delta Air Lines has topped up its Boeing orderbook to 173 aircraft by converting options and firming up previously announced purchases totalling an additional 49 Next Generation 737, 757, 767 and 777s.
The carrier has announced option conversions and incremental orders covering the six-month period between June and December for a further 14 737-800s, eight 757-200s and three 767-300ERs. Delta has also confirmed earlier orders placed in the second quarter of 1998 for 16 more 737s, six 757s and two 777-200ERs.
Cumulative Delta orders since it first announced an all-Boeing purchase of 106 aircraft in March 1997 now comprise 101 737-800s, 23 757s, 14 767-300ERs, 21 -400ERs and 14 777-200ERs. It still holds options on 471 other Boeing jets.
Initial deliveries will begin in June 1999 with the 767, followed by the first 737s in September, the 777s by the end of the year and the 757s starting in January 2000. The new aircraft will replace Delta's fleet of 46 Lockheed L-1011 TriStar widebodies and 117 Boeing 727-200s by the year 2005.
Source: Flight International
