Airline Begins Accepting Number 1 of 155 Planes on Order

Delta Air Lines has taken delivery of the first of 155 Airbus A321neo aircraft, commemorating the occasion with a photoshoot of their improved domestic First Class seating. 

The improved space, privacy, comfort, and storage for passengers stem from the new Airbus "Airspace" cabin, a wholesale redesign of the interior for a better traveling experience all around. The aircraft will head into service in May, portending the entry of similar aircraft making their way into service throughout the year. Mahendra Nair, Delta senior VP in charge of the fleet and technical operations supply chain, said the new aircraft "helps to usher in the next era of premium domestic service at Delta," revamping the look and feel of the airline at the ground level. 

Delta's fleet has become an increasingly aging competitor among airlines, making headlines last year as their average aircraft age crept up to 14 years. The new bolus of Airbuses will help to address that problem, granting passengers all the benefits of the new Airbus layout, like customizable ambient lighting, decreased noise in-flight, advanced in-flight entertainment integration, touchless features, and maximized personal space. 

The A321neos won't revamp the fleet all at once, Delta says, but they do show what's to come for company, improving the experience and reducing operational costs. “By adding the latest and largest Airbus single-aisle aircraft to their fleet, the team at Delta Air Lines continues to demonstrate its priority for operational efficiency while pleasing their customers with the most spacious single-aisle cabin in the sky,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus CCO and head of Airbus International. “With the A321neo’s per-seat fuel improvements of at least 20 percent, the airline is helping its bottom line and the environment at the same time.”

FMI: www.delta.com