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Delta Air Lines has ordered 31 more wide-body Airbus jets to boost its intercontinental fleet.<\/p>\n
The Atlanta-based carrier added 16 A330-900s and 15 A350-900s to its orderbook with Airbus on Tuesday, the planemaker said in a statement<\/a>. Deliveries will begin in 2029.<\/p>\n The deal comes amid Delta’s heavy investment in its future intercontinental fleet. A number of the long-haul planes it flies today, particularly the Boeing 767s that ply the skies over the Atlantic Ocean, are more than a quarter-century old. Aircraft are typically retired and replaced by the time they hit 25 or 30 years of age, though they can continue flying for longer with proper maintenance.<\/p>\n Fare watch: Delta drops latest signal ‘basic’ first- and business-class fares could be coming soon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Earlier in January, Delta ordered up to 60 Boeing 787-10s<\/a> for the same purpose: to replace older twin-aisle planes once deliveries begin in 2031.<\/p>\n All of these new planes help turn Delta’s premium product push into reality. The 787-10, for example, provides more space between the front two doors to sell more Delta One business-class suites<\/a>. That, in turn, opens up extra floor space behind the second door for profitable premium economy seats<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n