Delta Air Lines said it has agreed to order 100 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, with an option for 30 more, as part of a long-term plan to update its fleet and improve its overall fuel efficiency. The announcement came during the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., and included a signing ceremony.
The airline said it is adding the 737-10, which is the largest of the Max family of aircraft, and will begin deliveries in 2025. Next-generation LEAP-1B engines built by CFM International will power the new airplanes. General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines jointly own CFM.
The new 737-10s are expected to be 20 to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the models Delta is replacing, which the airline says it will retire from service. Delta says this agreement is an important part of its “journey toward a sustainable future for aviation.”
“The Boeing 737-10 will be an important addition to Delta’s fleet as we shape a more sustainable future for air travel, with an elevated customer experience, improved fuel efficiency, and best-in-class performance,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
“We are proud that Delta is renewing its single-aisle fleet with the 737 Max, Boeing’s most fuel-efficient family of airplanes,” said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Deal also said the new airplanes will give Delta “the best economics to carry more passengers across its short- and medium-haul routes.”
Delta said the 737-10 is awaiting final certification from the FAA, which it expects during 2023. The airline said its agreement carries certain protections in case of certification delays. These include shifting to a different model in the Max family if necessary.
With this order, Delta’s 737 fleet will grow to more than 300 aircraft and become the second-largest fleet family of aircraft behind the Airbus A320, the airline said.
