ATLANTA — Delta has finalized an agreement with Southwest Airlines and Boeing to lease 88 Boeing 717s currently in service at Southwest subsidiary AirTran Airways, the airline announced today.
The aircraft will begin delivery next year, with 16 scheduled to enter Delta’s fleet in 2013. An additional 36 will be delivered in 2014, and the remaining 36 in 2015.
The Boeing 717s will primarily replace small 50-seat regional jets on a capacity-neutral basis, Delta said. The 110-seat aircraft will feature new, fully upgraded interiors, with 12 First Class seats, 15 Economy Comfort seats and in-flight WiFi throughout the aircraft; seats in Economy will be arranged in a 2-3 configuration with one middle seat per row.
“Adding the Boeing 717 to our fleet will give customers, particularly business travelers, more mainline aircraft service that features their preferred amenities,” Delta CEO Richard Anderson. “The 717s also provide Delta with a significant improvement in economic efficiency relative to the aircraft they are replacing.”
Delta will begin taking delivery next year of new Boeing 737-900ER jets, which will primarily replace older Airbus A320 and Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. Delta will add 100 new 737-900ERs between 2013 and 2018, the airline said.
Delta has also upgraded its fleet with the addition of more than 80 MD-90 and two-class regional jets, retiring less efficient mainline and regional aircraft.