Delta Air Lines looks to expand fuel-efficient fleet

Delta Air Lines (Delta) is continuing with its plans to streamline its fuel-efficient fleet with the announcement of its execution of options for 12 new Airbus A220 single-aisle jets. Including these options, the American carrier has 70 A220s on order which, when delivered, will see Delta’s fleet grow to 131 A220-family aircraft.

“The A220-300 offers efficient performance and flexibility,” said Kristen Bojko, Vice President of Fleet. “The continuing expansion of Delta’s A220 family is an integral investment in the future of sustainable aviation.”

The A220-300 is powered by Pratt & Whitney latest-generation geared turbofan GTF™ engines, which allow the fan and turbine to spin at optimal speeds for fuel efficiency, delivering a step-change in fuel efficiency for its class. In addition to underlining Delta’s investment in sustainability, Delta’s constantly growing fleet of A220 aircraft complements Delta’s fuel-efficient A321neo fleet.

The next-generation A220-300 is a 130-seat aircraft which offers an elevated in-flight experience, serving domestic customers traveling to and from Delta’s coastal hubs. The narrow-body jet features 12 First Class, 30 Delta Comfort+ and 88 Main Cabin seats. The carrier took delivery of its first Airbus A220 in October 2018 and was the first in the U.S. to operate the aircraft type. Delta currently has 16 A220-300s in its fleet, whilst also operating a fleet of 45 109-seat A220-100 aircraft.

Delta Air Lines is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, though takes its name from the Mississippi Delta, the original home to Delta being Monroe, Louisiana when it was first incorporated as Delta Air Service back in 1928. Operating as one of the main U.S. carriers, the airline, along with its subsidiaries and regional affiliates, including Delta Connection, operates over 5,400 flights daily and serves 325 destinations in 52 countries on six continents. It is ranked second among the world’s largest airlines by number of passengers carried, passenger-miles flown, and fleet size, and is ranked first by revenue for commercially owned airline companies.