Delta 737-900ER. (Image: Boeing)
Delta said it will add 60 new aircraft to its domestic fleet once its rank-and-file pilots ratify a labor agreement already endorsed by the pilots’ leadership council.
When that happens, Delta said, it will move ahead with aircraft acquisitions including 20 Embraer E190s and another 40 Boeing 737-900ERs.
The E190s are currently held by Boeing after being previously operated by another airline. Delta said these 98-seat planes will be part of its mainline fleet, and will enter service late next year. The airline noted that the addition of these larger regional aircraft will “continue the shift of flying away from inefficient 50-seat regional jets as part of the company’s successful up-gauging strategy.”
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The order for 40 more 737-900ERs will bring Delta’s total order for that model to 140 planes. They’ll be used to replace other single-aisle aircraft as they are retired from the fleet through 2019, Delta said.
Delta’s 737-900ERs have 20 seats in first class, 21 in Delta Comfort and 139 in the main cabin, and a range of 2,870 miles.
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So they will redo the cabin, and remove the power ports and IFE? 🙁
Or will Delta’s at least keep their own versions?
Old United once had half their PDX-ORD (and back) flights as B757’s and carried a lot of people with a big front cabin (and plenty of upgrade opps, paid or coupon or comp). Now it’s only B737’s and A320’s and often a tight fit, small business/domestic first cabin.
At least it sounds like the CRJ-200s are finally going away. The smaller Embraer 170/175s are far superior to the CRJ 700/900 aircraft. Bigger seats and much larger overhead bins. A win on that front for flyers. The 737-900ER unfortunately is not nearly as comfortable as the 757s they likely be replacing. Hopefully they will also replace some 767-300 domestic aircraft. A great plane for coach passengers, but probably the worst aside from a CRJ for first class customers.
“… after being previously operated by another airline”
Another airline named Air Canada.
I just flew (I believe) my first E190 in coach on Aeromar (Aeromexico) from MEX to LMM and it was great. The coach sets were quite large. The configuration was 2×2. I was quite suprized. I would fly the E190 set up like this over any MD or B7** any day even though it was a commuter.
it would be so fun if they replaced every single 767 with 787’s…that would make having to layover on a flight to CHICAGO from LOS ANGELES so much more fun. One can dream…