With a fleet of nearly 1,000 mainline aircraft, Delta Air Lines stands as one of the aviation giants, rivaled only by American Airlines and United Airlines in terms of size. What sets Delta apart is the diversity of its fleet. While JetBlue and Breeze Airways have heavily invested in the A220, Delta remains the sole North American airline operating the A220-100. Even Air Canada hasn’t ventured into acquiring this smaller variant. The A220 has been in service for almost a decade and is nearing 1,000 firm orders, with Delta, JetBlue, and Breeze Airways accounting for a significant portion of these.
Delta’s fleet is unique, featuring a substantial number of Airbus A319s and being the largest operator of the Boeing 717, alongside Hawaiian Airlines. The Boeing 717 is a rare gem, a McDonnell Douglas design still flying after the company’s merger with Boeing. Delta also leads in operating the Boeing 757-200 and Boeing 767-300ER and is the only U.S. airline currently flying the Airbus A350. However, the Airbus A220-100 is a standout, with Delta being the only North American operator. Delta’s A220 fleet includes 45 A220-100s and 34 A220-300s, with plans to expand its A220-300 fleet to 86 aircraft. As of 2023, Delta has reordered the A220 five times, making it the largest A220 customer and operator globally.
The Airbus A220, originally developed by Bombardier as the CSeries, is unique as it’s primarily produced in Canada, with an additional assembly line in Alabama. Bombardier faced significant challenges in developing the CSeries, but a pivotal order from Delta for 75 CS100 aircraft in 2016 provided the necessary boost. This order was crucial in overcoming financial hurdles and delays, marking a turning point for the program. Delta’s confidence in the CSeries not only helped Bombardier but also solidified Delta’s position as a major player in the aviation industry.
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Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
