Delta Air Lines orders 100 B737-900ERs

Delta Air Lines ordered (25-Aug-2011) 100 B737-900ER aircraft powered by CFM56-7BE engines. The order, with a list-price value of more than USD8.5 billion, is part of Delta's fleet renewal effort. Delivery of the 180-seat aircraft, will occur from 2013 to 2018. 12 aircraft are expected in 2013, 19 aircraft yearly from 2014 through 2017 and the remaining 12 in 2018. Delta said the aircraft, which will be operated on domestic routes, had committed long-term financing. The carrier said the B737 aircraft it is ordering will have lower unit costs than the older B757 and B767 and A320 models they will replace. [more - Delta] [more - Boeing]

Delta has delayed a decision on replacing smaller, single-aisle jets, some of which are older than the B757s and B767s that will be phased out between 2013 and 2018. Bombardier's C Series is said to be in contention for an additional 100 aircraft order from the carrier to replace those smaller jets, including 32 DC-9s with an average age of 33 years and 117 MD-88s that are 21 years old on average and are owned or leased by the carrier. Bombardier is competing with Embraer for that order, though the Brazilian manufacturer does not expect Delta to make a decision for at least 12 months (Reuters, 25-Aug-2011).