Delta Air Lines has purchased a used Boeing 777-200ER from Malaysia Airlines.
The aircraft, registration N318MY and MSN 28415, was delivered to the Atlanta-based carrier earlier in February, Flightglobal’s Fleet Analyzer shows.
Delta plans to part out the 1998-vintage 777 to support its fleet of eight 777-200ERs and 10 777-200LRs, a source familiar with the transaction says at the ISTAT Americas conference in Phoenix.
Richard Anderson, chief executive of Delta, said in December that the airline had signed a letter of intent to purchase a used 777-200ER for $7.7 million. He did not say where the aircraft was coming from or what the airline intended to use it for.
Analysts and industry participants have repeatedly said that a 777 worth that amount would likely need significant work, including new engines, to make it airworthy.
The source confirms that the 777 Delta acquired would need significant and costly work to return to passenger service.
Delta is shifting its widebody fleet to smaller aircraft. It is taking delivery of new Airbus A330-300s this year and Airbus A350-900s from 2017 while retiring ageing Boeing 747-400s, all of which are scheduled to leave its fleet by 2017, and some Boeing 767-300ERs.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
