Delta Airlines Fleet changes – 2010 vs. 2016

• Delta Air Lines has 20 different aircraft fleet types and models today; largely a result of its merger with Northwest Airlines and other fleet acquisitions.
• The narrowbody aircraft space for Delta has grown at a considerable rate vs. its widebody fleet.
• Delta’s narrowbody fleet has grown by 101 units over the last six years (2010 to 2016) with the acquisition of AirTran’s 717 fleet from Southwest (to replace its aging DC9 fleet), almost 70 737-900ERs (to replace its 757 fleet) over that same period, and almost 50 used MD-90s which are refurbished. The airline also is growing its A321 fleet.
• On the other hand, Delta’s widebody aircraft fleet has shrunk over the last six years declining by six aircraft units overall. The airline has grown its A330-300 fleet (up by 10 units) and removed from service 16 747-400s and 767-300s.
• The airline will continue to grow its narrowbody fleet as it has on order about 200 aircraft (737-900ERs, A321s, and Bombardier’s CS100); on the widebody side, it has about 70 aircraft on order (787-8s, A330-900neos, and A350-900s) .
• Through these changes, Delta has grown its fleet in the short-range 100-135 seat space; stayed about the same in the large narrowbody space (175+ seats), and shrunk its long-range widebody aircraft sector (375-400 seats). Look for more of that in the future.