The value of the deal was updated in paragraph four.
Delta Air Lines has ordered 10 Airbus A330-300s and 30 A321s with deliveries from 2015.
The first A330 will be delivered to the Atlanta-based carrier in the second quarter of 2015 with four delivered that year, four in 2016 and two in 2017. Delta says it will be the first airline to operate the enhanced 242t version of the A330, which offers additional range and payload. Delta's A330s will be powered by General Electric CF6-80E1 engines.
The first sharklet-equipped A321 will be delivered during the first quarter of 2016, with 15 coming that year and 15 in 2017. The aircraft will use CFM International CFM56-5B engines.
The deal is valued at about $5.6 billion at list prices.
"This Airbus agreement is another opportunistic fleet transaction for Delta in which we acquire economically efficient, proven-technology aircraft," says Richard Anderson, chief executive of Delta. "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."
The 242t A330 benefits from 500nm of additional range and 5t additional payload, compared to the earlier 235t A330s, according to Airbus. Delta plans to use the aircraft over both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Sharklets reduce fuel burn by about 4% and add either 100nm in additional range or about 450kg of additional payload to the A321, according to the OEM.
Many of Delta's new A321s will come from Airbus' final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, says the airframer. The line is being built and will deliver its first aircraft in 2016.
Delta has 32 A330s and 126 A320 family aircraft in its fleet.
The airline also has outstanding orders for 100 Boeing 737-900ERs with deliveries beginning later this month, and 18 Boeing 787-8s with deliveries from 2020.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
