Delta Air Lines has ordered 37 more Airbus A321ceo aircraft, exercising the option in its late 2013 order for 30 of the twin-engine narrow-body aircraft. With the deliveries due to start next year, the order extends to CFM International, the jet-engine manufacturer that will supply its CFM56-5B engine for the new aircraft.
The jets will be the “current engine option” of the A321, which incorporates a stretched fuselage to the standard A320. That series of jets is due to be updated with a new aerodynamic design and other changes, including a choice of CFM LEAP 1-A or Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines.
The merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines in 2010 left the combined firm with a large Airbus fleet, in particular A320 and A330 series aircraft, which it has expanded in subsequent years.
The new A321ceo jets will be added to 126 other CFM-powered A319 and A320 aircraft in the Delta fleet: recently, the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A321 and is using the aircraft to gradually replace older jets being retired from its fleet.
CFM International is a joint venture of GE Aviation and Snecma, a Safran division, formed in 1974 to build and support the CFM56 series of turbofan engines. The engines are high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines with a thrust range of 18,500 to 34,000 pounds-force. GE Aviation produces the high-pressure compressor, combustor, and high-pressure turbine, and Snecma manufactures the fan, gearbox, exhaust and the low-pressure turbine. Both partners assemble the engines in their respective plants.
In addition to the new engines for the 37 aircraft, Delta’s order includes a five-year Material Support Agreement (MSA).
