An A321neo in Delta livery. (Image: Delta)
Delta started taking delivery of single-aisle Airbus A321s early last year, and it must like them, because it just placed a big order for a bunch of the newest version of that plane.
The company said it has come to terms with Airbus to place firm orders for 100 A321neos, with options for another 100 beyond that. Deliveries are due to start in 2020.
According to Delta’s website, it now has 26 A321-200s in its fleet. Those planes carry 192 passengers – 20 in first class, 29 in Comfort+ and 143 in economy, or about the same number as the 757s they are replacing.
The A321neos will have 197 seats, Delta said, including 20 in first, 30 in Comfort+ and 147 in economy. The A321s will replace “smaller, less technically advanced aircraft,” Delta noted. According to FlightGlobal.com, the new jets will replace Delta’s aging A320s, B757s and MD80s.
The higher-tech A321neos will feature high-speed, satellite-based Wi-Fi and on-demand entertainment, with power ports and streaming video content available at each seat through Delta Studio, the airline said. Cabins’ overhead bins will be 25 percent larger, and cabin lighting will be full-spectrum LED.
Delta reportedly chose the Airbus narrow-bodies over Boeing’s 737MAX-10s. Currently, Delta’s single-aisle fleet includes 148 aircraft from Airbus (A319s, 320s and 321s) and 171 from Boeing’s 737 group (-700s, -800s and -900ERs).
Take a deep dive into a new Delta A321 here.
The interior of Delta’s current Airbus A321. (Image; Delta)
The A321neo (the “neo” stands for “new engine option”) is also popular at other U.S. airlines. For instance, Alaska’s Virgin America unit is currently deploying them on several Hawaii and mainland routes; Hawaiian Airlines is about to start flying them from mainland cities to the islands; and Frontier Airlines recently placed an order for 134 A320neos and A321neos.
According to Airbus, the single-aisle planes in its “neo” group are about 20 percent more fuel-efficient than regular A319/20/21s. Airbus said “typical” seating for an A321neo would be 206 in a two-class layout – although the aircraft could have as many as 240 seats. The A321neo has a range of 7,400 km. (about 4,600 miles or 4,000 nautical miles) vs. 5,900 km. for a regular A321 – or about 25 percent more.
Have you flown on an A321 yet? How’d you like it? How does it compare to your favorite Boeing plane?
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I think it’s an oversimplification to assume they could have ordered from Boeing just as easily… I doubt Delta would have placed an order for the 321 if it didn’t find them superior in some way or another to the 737-9. They have an obligation to buy the plane that will ultimately provide the best value for THEIR shareholders, not Boeing or Airbus’s (whether this is ethically correct or not is a whole different discussion; that’s just the way our economy works). It does seem like the US carriers are ordering and flying more of the A321 and 319 than of the comparable size 737s, but also seem to be flying more of the 737-800/-8 rather than the A320. Perhaps the different planes are better optimized at different capacities? Both companies have a huge order log so either way, American workers will be hard at work building planes in both WA and AL for the foreseeable future. Also worthy to mention, is Delta’s order of the CS100 from Bombardier, that led to the tariff dispute over these planes. Airbus then acquired the C-Series program, and will double the size of its AL plant to build them. So, another (albeit completely accidental) win for US aerospace jobs!
OK, good points, but I’m sure there are more American shareholders of Boeing (who would benefit from Delta being patriotic) that American shareholders of Airbus. Also, I doubt Airbus’ product is that more superior that the Boeing version of a similar aircraft. I would also venture that there are a LOT more Boeing employees in the US than Airbus employees in the US. Lastly, the optics are just not good for Delta buying European, when they could just as easily buy American.
My point is that the effect is the same. American workers are building the planes either way. Boeing is just as subsidized as Airbus. Delta needs to buy from the manufacturer with the best product for them. If that isn’t Boeing, then Boeing needs to step up their game rather than expect to get orders JUST because their HQ is in the US.
BUT, Airbus is not an AMERICAN company, it’s European. I’m just saying it would be better for AMERICA for Delta to buy AMERICAN. Let’s benefit a domestic company, not a European, government-subsidized consortium.
Airbus now manufactures the A320 family in the USA. It’s not the only A320 assembly line obviously, but most of the aircraft destined for US airlines are assembled there.
It’d be nice if Delta would support an American-made brand, isn’t our trade deficit high enough?
Wish they went with the MAX-10, but ditching the MD-80’s will save them significant money in fuel costs.
I am happier in the A-320 family including the A-321. It has a wider cabin and typically the seats are marginally wider, wider aisle. My perception is the aircraft is quieter than the 737 family. Although I use an I-Pad with downloaded video and books, I prefer the aircraft with IFE. My perception is the passengers are distracted by the video entertainment, especially during delays. Again my perception is more main stream airlines operating A-320 families have IFE, except American Airlines.
When America West took over US Airways, the AWA management figured out that used properly the 321 is a cash making machine. Prior to that only other airline in the US that operated the 321 was Sprit, now look American made a big purchase prior to the merger so combined with US they operate more 321 than any other airline in the world, now we have Delta, Frontier, jetBlue, Alaska/Virgin America all are gaining this model in the fleet. Has for comfort in coach, it exceeds the 737, with wider seats, larger bins and the mid-aft restroom.
DL’s 75S planes (the ones with lie-flat) still have a good 20 years of service left. Some of DL’s other 757s are much older, those one will get replaced
If these are going to start replacing the 757s, I wonder if they plan to install lie seats on some of the ones that they currently use for domestic Delta One?