Delta to buy 60 new planes with approval of pilot contract
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines announced it plans to buy 20 Embraer E190 planes and 40 more Boeing 737-900ER planes if pilots approve a new labor contract.
The E190 would add to Delta’s variety of aircraft in its fleet. Delta plans to buy used E190 planes held by Boeing and operate them with 98 seats in its mainline fleet flown by Delta pilots starting in late 2016. Delta said it will use the cost-efficient aircraft on domestic routes to continue its replacement of inefficient 50-seat regional jets operated by Delta Connection contract carriers.
The addition of the aircraft to Delta's fleet would be enabled through a new pilot labor contract, which Delta pilots are set to vote on soon. The leadership of the Air Line Pilots Association at Delta voted in favor of the tentative labor agreement Wednesday to send to members for a ratification vote.
Delta also plans to buy 40 new 737-900ERs from Boeing to add to its existing order of 100 737-900ERs. The list price for a 737-900ER is $99 million, though airlines typically get significant discounts through bulk orders. The additional 737s would replace other planes Delta is retiring through 2019.
About the Author
As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.
