January 13, 2011
Delta is beginning to plan for the future of its domestic mainline fleet and is accepting requests for proposals or RFPs to replace more than 200 narrowbody aircraft to provide long-term mainline domestic growth.
Late December, Delta sent a RFP to several major aircraft manufacturers for the eventual replacement of aircraft such as the Airbus A320, the DC9-50 and the Boeing 757-200, and to provide for long-term mainline domestic growth.
The proposal marks the next phase of Delta’s mainline fleet strategy, as older domestic mainline aircraft begin to approach retirement age, smaller regional jets and turboprop are phased out and the airline works to grow its domestic business.
During the past year, Delta has focused on combining the Delta and former Northwest fleets and investing in existing aircraft, with improvements including WiFi on all two-class domestic aircraft, interior upgrades and the installation of additional first class seats. Delta also has made some strategic aircraft acquisitions, including new and used aircraft, supplementing DC-9s and other aircraft that have retired from service.
Since 2007, Delta has invested in 60 mainline aircraft, including 10 Boeing 777-200LRs, 12 Boeing 737-700/800s, five used Boeing 757-200s and 33 used MD-90s.
At the same time, the airline has removed more than 70 50-seat regional jets and 25 Saab 340 turboprops from the fleet.
“Our strategy has worked well, with the improvements to our existing aircraft and the cost-efficient airplanes we’ve added to the domestic fleet,” said Nat Pieper, v.p.-Fleet Strategy and Transactions. “We’re now starting to plan for the long term, to ensure that we continue to maintain a flexible, cost-efficient fleet that meets our customers’ needs in the years to come, replace retiring airplanes and provide for domestic mainline growth.”
The RFP asks for proposals to deliver 100 to 200 firm aircraft, with an option for 200 more, starting in early 2013. It asks the manufacturers to consider large, medium and small narrowbody planes to be operated by Delta as mainline aircraft.
Nat said that Delta also continues to look for opportunities to purchase used aircraft.
He added that the request for proposals is a first step, and no decisions have been made regarding future aircraft purchases.
“We’ll evaluate all of our options,” he said.
Delta is beginning to plan for the future of its domestic mainline fleet and is accepting requests for proposals or RFPs to replace more than 200 narrowbody aircraft to provide long-term mainline domestic growth.
Late December, Delta sent a RFP to several major aircraft manufacturers for the eventual replacement of aircraft such as the Airbus A320, the DC9-50 and the Boeing 757-200, and to provide for long-term mainline domestic growth.
The proposal marks the next phase of Delta’s mainline fleet strategy, as older domestic mainline aircraft begin to approach retirement age, smaller regional jets and turboprop are phased out and the airline works to grow its domestic business.
During the past year, Delta has focused on combining the Delta and former Northwest fleets and investing in existing aircraft, with improvements including WiFi on all two-class domestic aircraft, interior upgrades and the installation of additional first class seats. Delta also has made some strategic aircraft acquisitions, including new and used aircraft, supplementing DC-9s and other aircraft that have retired from service.
Since 2007, Delta has invested in 60 mainline aircraft, including 10 Boeing 777-200LRs, 12 Boeing 737-700/800s, five used Boeing 757-200s and 33 used MD-90s.
At the same time, the airline has removed more than 70 50-seat regional jets and 25 Saab 340 turboprops from the fleet.
“Our strategy has worked well, with the improvements to our existing aircraft and the cost-efficient airplanes we’ve added to the domestic fleet,” said Nat Pieper, v.p.-Fleet Strategy and Transactions. “We’re now starting to plan for the long term, to ensure that we continue to maintain a flexible, cost-efficient fleet that meets our customers’ needs in the years to come, replace retiring airplanes and provide for domestic mainline growth.”
The RFP asks for proposals to deliver 100 to 200 firm aircraft, with an option for 200 more, starting in early 2013. It asks the manufacturers to consider large, medium and small narrowbody planes to be operated by Delta as mainline aircraft.
Nat said that Delta also continues to look for opportunities to purchase used aircraft.
He added that the request for proposals is a first step, and no decisions have been made regarding future aircraft purchases.
“We’ll evaluate all of our options,” he said.
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