Delta Air Lines announced it will buy 100 Boeing 737-900ER planes to replace older aircraft and upgrade its fleet.
The 100 new planes, which have a total list price of more than $8.5 billion, are more fuel-efficient and will help improve the company's profitability, Delta said.
Delta said it has long-term financing for the planes and said the order will keep the company's annual capital expenditures between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion over the next three years, as the company seeks to reduce its net debt. Because the new planes will replace older aircraft Delta is retiring from its fleet, the order will not increase the airline's flight capacity.
Boeing said the new planes will have a new "Boeing Sky Interior" with new lighting and curving architecture. The planes are capable of flying any of Delta's domestic routes.
The 180-seat planes will be delivered between 2013 and 2018, including 12 in 2013, followed by 19 per year from 2014 through 2017 and the last 12 in 2018.
The order is a win for Boeing to keep a key customer. Delta has had a heavy Boeing presence in its fleet, up until its acquisition of Northwest which added Airbus aircraft to its fleet.
