Delta Air Lines has reached an agreement with Airbus to purchase 15 A321 aircraft for delivery beginning in 2018, the airline announced.
The A321s will replace similar, less-efficient domestic aircraft that are being retired from Delta’s fleet.
“This opportunistic aircraft order continues Delta’s disciplined, capital efficient approach to fleet renewal,” Delta CEO Richard Anderson said in a news release. “These new airplanes will improve the flying experience for our customers and benefit our shareholders.”
Delta’s first A321 will begin service in early 2016, with 20 first class seats, 23 extra-legroom seats in economy comfort and 149 seats in economy. Each A321 will feature in-flight Wi-Fi, in-flight entertainment with live satellite TV and on-demand options, and standard 110v power at every seat.
With the announcement, Delta now has 45 A321s on order, aircraft that are common with the 126 Airbus narrowbody aircraft currently in the Delta fleet. All of Delta’s Airbus narrowbody aircraft feature CFM56 engines produced by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Snecma (Safran) of France.