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Delta contemplating massive narrowbody order
Delta Air Lines 757. Photo: Courtesy, Delta Air Lines.
Delta Air Lines confirmed it has issued an RFP to "several major aircraft manufacturers" regarding a future order of as many as 200 firm aircraft with deliveries beginning in 2013 to replace aging DC-9s, Boeing 757-200s and Airbus A320s on mainline domestic flying.
In an internal memo sent to DL employees and provided to ATW, DL said the RFP issued in late December "asks for proposals to deliver 100 to 200 firm aircraft, with an option for 200 more, starting in early 2013. It asks the manufacturers to consider large, medium and small narrowbody planes to be operated by Delta as mainline aircraft."
It continued, "The proposal marks the next phase of Delta's mainline fleet strategy, as older domestic mainline aircraft begin to approach retirement age, smaller regional jets and turboprop are phased out and the airline works to grow its domestic business."
VP-Fleet Strategy and Transactions Nat Pieper emphasized that the RFP should be viewed as "a first step" with "no decisions … made regarding future aircraft purchases. We'll evaluate all of our options."
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Discuss this news 26
Please taek those DC 9's out
By J chalonPlease taek those DC 9's out of service
I love the DC9s, though I
By Chris VidalI love the DC9s, though I must say they need some refreshing inside. I'll miss them.
At least they stand out in the middle of this ocean of underwing narrowbodies the world has become.
The DC-9s run better than
By AnonymousThe DC-9s run better than those nasty 767's...and I dare say maintained infinitely better.
Have you ever worked on one?
By Love the 9Have you ever worked on one? They are the best planes in the sky! Please answer this...stormy...turbulent weather...would you like to be on an overbuilt tank or a glued together A320...yikes! The A320 was made in the late '80's and we are already scrapping them...the 9's were built in the '60's...wise up!
I predict a big battle for
By BillI predict a big battle for the 100-200 seat single aisle aircraft envisioned here.....what about all those (old) 767s?
Think hard and choose the
By AnonymousThink hard and choose the CSeries.
Think hard and choose the
By Richard in PortsmouthThink hard and choose the E170 / 190
Out of all the airplanes Ive
By DAY SAY NUFFOut of all the airplanes Ive worked on, Viscount,
1-11.707.VC10.Vanguard .DC8.and a load of
exectutive jets, the DC9 was by far the most
mechanic friendly and therefore the safest.
The DC9 is the most mechanic
By DAY SAY NUFFThe DC9 is the most mechanic friendly,therfore
the safest ,airplane I ever worked on.
When I go to Europe and see
By sauveurWhen I go to Europe and see how Easy Jet and British AIr ( to name 2) have gone from a Boeing carrier to an airbus carrier, it makes me very upset. Delta has always been a Boeing carrier first and a US manufactured aircraft user second ( Douglas, Lockheed, Convair), with the exception of a few Airbus 300 and 310's they got from Pan Am.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that Delta won't be induced into buying into an Airbus fleet. Airbus are overbuilt highly technical aircraft that all too often have a mind of their own,w hich leads to fatal accidents. The old saying " IF IT AIN'T BOEING: WE'RE NOT GOING!" still appplies.
I was just on a Delta DC-9 on
By AnonymousI was just on a Delta DC-9 on January 4. It had so much legroom. I hate their A319/A320 as they have no legroom. The aircraft is maintained wonderfully, and the ride is beautiful. Remember, Douglas made airplanes like tanks. :)
As for new aircraft, I'm thinking C-Series, cause 737-700 is not great for cost (compared to 738 with 160 seats).
I worked on the 9’s and the
By EdI worked on the 9’s and the MD-80 series planes. Douglas airplanes were very well built. They could be in service for a long time if maintained properly. Anyone who has a chance to look at the structure of a 9 compare to a 737 Classic could tell a 9 is built and designed much better. 737 NG is much better than the 737 Classic structurally. 9’s are being retired because it gets expensive to update the electronics and engines. Without the upgrades, 9’s cannot complete with newer types of planes in operating cost.
Keep buying used MD-90-30s.
By IcarusKeep buying used MD-90-30s. DC-9 2 + 3 seats comfort, only one that meets Stage 4 noise requirements, proven airframe, good engines, and comes cheap!
Didn't DL retire some of
By AnonymousDidn't DL retire some of those old 9's in 1975 only to come back with the NW merger?
Thankfully in Western Europe
By AnonymousThankfully in Western Europe all airlines fly modern planes (both Boeing & Airbus), you simply would not find one flying a 40 year old museum piece! If I were given the choice of flying a "a glued together A320" which has one of the best safety records of ANY plan in the sky or a 40 year old rust bucket give me an A320 ANY time!!! As far as Delta is concerned it will be interesting to see which way they go, lots of pressure to buy American but at the moment Airbus simply has a better offering.
i love the dc9s. there great
By Mark Underwoodi love the dc9s. there great planes. i love flying in them when i can.please dont get rid of them
While I love seeing well
By EricWhile I love seeing well maintained classics still flying(DL DC-9, RAF VC-10), eventually they have to be retired. It will be interesting to see what they go with, might even be a mix. Having flown Boeing, Airbus and BAC/Bae aircraft during my career, I find the Airbus cockpit to be the most comfortable and the least tiring on a long day. Incidentally, The first 737NG was scrapped last year.
Only get the 170/190 if they
By AnonymousOnly get the 170/190 if they go on mainline flying, NOT if they go to the 'regionals' again. Otherwise go with 737-700/800 or find some MD90's or take some n717's from Southwest if they dont want to keep all that Airtran has.
It's all a matter of cost.
By AnonymousIt's all a matter of cost. With fuel prices going nowhere but up and our dependence on foreign oil makes the old straight pipe jets and early fans cost inefficient. FADEC, Full Authority Digital Electronic Control sytems, makes an engine 15% more fuel efficient right off the top. Adapting a FADEC engine to new biofuels takes only a replacement of a microchip. The old DC-9 series would require STC's, re-engining and perhaps a limited recertification. You can buy them cheap but they'll cost you in the end.
I got news; the huge fleet
By AnonymousI got news; the huge fleet order goes to Airbus; A320 and A321 as well as to the NEO´s. I can´t tell more, but it’s a massive order.
Actually the MD90 is not the
By BDYActually the MD90 is not the only DC-9 derivative that meets Stage 4 noise requirements. Pratt & Whitney has developed and certified two upgrades for the JT8D-200 series engines that power the MD80s which both bring the engine to Stage 4 and dramatically reduce emissions. The upgraded engine qualifies for Swiss Class 5, the cleanest emissions standards in the world. As for the original DC-9, Douglas tested the airplane through 140,000+ cycles and then tested it to destruction. This enabled Douglas to have the airframe certified with an unlimited life limit given proper monitoring and maintenance to Douglas and FAA standards and procedures. You can't say that about the 737 classics.
You might want to change it
By zd14689You might want to change it to :If it is a Boeing it ain't going".
Boeing is now going where Airbus went. Unfortunately we lost DC/MD and a good aircraft was taken of the market.
As to your claim that Boeing aircraft's might be more reliable, I would like to ask you to read up on your statistics. B737 have more accidents for example in comparison with A320 in the same time period.
I am not a fan of either manufacturer, I just look at this in a logical and not emotional manner. Neither one is better than the other. Both companies build good aircraft's. It is to consider, what is the best for the airline and what are the preferences of passengers.
I for example prefer the A320 over the B737 and I also prefer the 757 over the 737. I love the B747 but would rather be on an A330 than the B767.
Legroom is a function of
By AnonymousLegroom is a function of seating configuration as determined by the airline and not the manufacturer of the aircraft.
Ladies and Gentlemen, You
By AnonymousLadies and Gentlemen, You must start thinking outside the box. If Delta is going to order up to 400 aircraft it would most likely be a new design. (The 2013 deliveries would be some old design 737/A320-21 to fill some growth needs beyond the current fleet). Boeing better get that Dreamliner on the line because they are going to need those engineers to design a plane lighter than the 737. The CFM56 core is not going to cut it either - you boys at GE better get started - GE 90 is great and the windmills are up so spend some of that cash you're getting from Comcast (from selling NBC) and get back in the aircraft engine business. PW- I hope the geared engine works out but geared engines haven't had a great track record in the past and it's not the SFC that they are looking for. Next Gen engines needs to burn 30% less SFC than a CFM56 (and by the why the CFM56 weighs too much which makes the 737-700 not a wonderful choice)
I doubt if you ever will any
By NWA ROOSTERI doubt if you ever will any Airbus A320 aircraft flying in regular service for 40 years like the DC-9 has.
Agreed. Love and miss the Mad
By TailBaiterAgreed. Love and miss the Mad Dog!
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