Delta facing delays on Airbus A321neo deliveries, just like American and JetBlue
Delta Air Lines will receive far fewer Airbus A321neos this year than it expected, joining the long list of airlines facing months-long delivery delays of the new jet.
The Atlanta-based carrier anticipates the delivery of just one A321neo in 2020, its latest fleet plan released Thursday shows. Delta's previous fleet plan a year ago forecast 16 A321neo deliveries this year.
Delta plans to introduce a new domestic first class seat on the A321neo. The seats will feature a memory foam cushion, increased privacy, extra storage and a larger tray table compared to the current offering.
Sign up for the free daily TPG newsletter for more airline news!
The delays facing A321neo deliveries are well documented. American Airlines took nearly a third fewer A321neos than it planned last year, and JetBlue Airways has been forced to lease used A321s to make up for its delivery shortfall.
The late deliveries are due to what lessor Air Lease CEO John Plueger has called an "industrial problem" at Airbus' Hamburg facility. The issues include "complications from their very popular ACF Airbus Cabin Flex offering," he said in October 2019.
American, Delta and JetBlue's A321neos all feature the ACF cabin.
Air Lease is one of the single largest A321neo customers, with firm orders for 178 jets of which 38 had been delivered at the end of January, Airbus' data shows. Air Lease is an industry giant, purchasing planes that it then leases to dozens of major carriers, including U.S. giants American, Delta and Southwest.
Related: JetBlue picks up used jets as Airbus A321neo delays mount
Delta management did not highlight the delay during a fourth-quarter earnings call in January. Executives instead highlighted the airline's continued replacement of older narrow-body jets, namely the McDonnell Douglas MD-88s and MD-90s, with newer, larger models in 2020.
"Aircraft deliveries, by their nature, are fluid but thanks to the experts who manage our fleet, schedule and operations, our customers can expect the same high level of predictability and consistency when they fly us," said Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant, who added that the MD-88s will be retired this year.
The airline's fleet plan does show more Airbus A220, A321 and A330-900 deliveries than previously planned. Delta will take five more A220-100s, four more A321s and three more A330neos — a total of 12 aircraft — than its February 2019 fleet plan shows. These could make up for the shortfall in A321neos depending on how fast it retires MD-88s and MD-90s.
In 2020, Delta plans to take delivery of 66 mainline aircraft: 17 A220-100s, six A220-300s, 31 A321s, one A321neo, seven A330-900s and four A350-900s. The plan includes two new variants for the airline, the A220-300 and A321neo, as well as its final A321 arrivals.
Related: Delta will introduce new first-class seats on Airbus A321neos
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees