Delta Orders 30 Additional Airbus A321neo Aircraft

Delta looking to increase its capacity/plane size.

Smart move for efficiencies. This plane required the same number of FA's as 737's but seats 16 more.

Good for busy hubs, like LGA, ALT, and LAX

Regarding the A321ceo order, Delta did the same thing with respect to the 737-900ER purchases. Both Boeing and Airbus need orders from the current generation of planes to tide them over while they ramp up next generation production. Thus, Delta has swooped in and gotten great deals from both companies. Yes, the current generation planes are less fuel efficient, but when the capital costs are lower, it makes up for the extra fuel expenses. It's a classic Delta move!

They will add lie flat seats to these planes
They need them for the transcon market
Also what are they going to do with the charters? The 757 has only 72 seats for their charter plane and those are approaching 30 years old.

The wide body aircraft death continues with reckless abandon ....

DOT data shows that the value of latest generation domestic narrowbody aircraft usually do not overcome the higher acquisition price compared to the next previous generation in terms of fuel burn, esp. when upgauging to more seats per aircraft is also involved since fuel burn improvement for the 737MAX vs NG and the 320NEO family vs. the 320CEO family is only about 10-12% per seat.
Delta acquired end of the production line B737-900ERs and A321CEOs because they were replacing 150-160 seat MD80s and 90s so they got a significant increase in efficiency by moving not just a single generation in engine technology but also by adding roughly 20-40 more seats per flight. In the same vein, Delta was able to justify the 110 seat B717's higher fuel burn relative to other narrowbodies because they were replacing 50 seat regional jets.
Delta also got much more acquisition deals on the A321CEOs and B737-900ERs than they could get on MAXs or NEOs.

It is also worth noting that, despite its massive refleeting, American still has hundreds of A321CEOs and 737NGs and United will have hundreds of NGs as well unless it uses alot more of its own massive order for fleet replacement than it has indicated. American and United also have higher percentages of 50 passenger regional jet aircraft.
It's also worth noting that Delta has the A220 which is highly fuel efficient while most other airlines including American and United do not have any new-generation small narrowbody in their fleets or on order.

The benefit from latest generation widebody aircraft is much greater because they fly further and carry more passengers than domestic aircraft which explains why Delta has been much more aggressive in replacing its older international aircraft including removing the 777 while American and United will be operating 777s with much lower fuel efficiency for at least another ten years, well beyond most other global passenger carriers.

I'm just happy that they will no longer buy from Boeing. A220, A321, A330, A350 will suit them for years.

Sounds more like Airbus Clearance sale! Just like car dealerships trying to clear inventory of current year models making room for new models. 🙂

Delta now almost seem Anti American.

Support American jobs by flying on American aircraft.

first, most A321s for US airlines are assembled in Mobile, Alabama.
second, aviation is global. The 787 has significant amount of parts that come from European suppliers. The 737 is the most "American airplane" but Boeing and General Electric won't allow Delta to overhaul the engines on the aircraft.
Delta's A321NEOs along with the A220/Bombardier C Series (many also assembled in Mobile) are powered by Pratt and Whitney Geared Turbofan engines which are made in the USA. The engine is the most expensive part of any aircraft.
Pratt and Whitney as well as Rolls Royce have awarded service contracts to Delta not only to service all of the new aircraft engines it has on order but to also do that for other airlines throughout the Americas. Part of the lower cost to Delta for its aircraft on order is the maintenance revenue it will get from other airlines.
And note that Delta said the A321NEO is the most efficient and capable narrowbody available even apart from the engine maintenance advantage. Delta, like all businesses, ultimately buys what is in their best interest. There are far more US airlines flying or with the A321NEO on order than there are that have 737MAXs on order or in service. Even United and American have ordered NEOs in addition to their MAXs.

And Southwest is still the only large US airline that flies a completely Boeing built fleet - but from here on out will be only 737MAXs.

Huh?

The correct way to order a new a320 is through a great merger with American and Delta in New York City terminal 4 at Kennedy airport as well as 5.

Wow. I think you need a break

made in usa with made in usa engines which isnt actually true on the 737