The Problem Delta Air Lines Ran Into With Replacing Its Boeing 757s

Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 757s are among the oldest aircraft in its fleet, with an average age of 23.6 years old according to the latest data from ch-aviation. The SkyTeam carrier has long planned to replace them, particularly on key transcontinental routes, and ordered the Airbus A321neo to do so. However, things have not gone to plan so far.

In this article, we will examine what has happened to Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A321neos and how this subfleet may evolve in the future. We will also consider the carrier’s wider transcontinental operations and the aircraft currently deployed on these routes.

The Aircraft Are Awaiting Certification

Credit: Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines originally planned to introduce a subfleet of 21 Airbus A321neos specifically for premium transcontinental services, with the aircraft expected to enter commercial service in 2024. These were to have a total capacity of up to 148 passengers – 12 in first class, 16 in business class, and 120 in economy class (including 54 extra legroom seats). The business class cabin was set to feature the carrier’s latest lie-flat beds, but these have not yet been certified for use on the A321neo. Frustratingly for the airline, the necessary certification is not expected to be granted until 2026.

This lack of certification means that in their current configuration, Delta Air Lines’ premium Airbus A321neos are unable to fly, and as a result, the five examples that have already been built are currently being kept in storage, as outlined in the table below:

One option would be for Delta Air Lines to simply leave the aircraft in storage and await the certification the carrier needs from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its latest business class seat on the narrowbody aircraft.

Leaving the aircraft in storage would not be the most financially sound option. After all, an aircraft only makes money when it is flying. This left Delta Air Lines with no other choice but to look for an alternative solution while awaiting the necessary certification, and it has come up with quite a radical idea – retrofitting the aircraft interior with more first class seats.

A Temporary Change To The Aircraft’s Interior

Credit: Delta Air Lines

In order to make the best use of the Airbus A321neos while awaiting certification from the FAA, Delta Air Lines has opted to temporarily modify its interior cabin configuration, replacing the lie-flat business class seats with an additional 32 first class seats in a 2-2 configuration. This brings the total number of first class seats onboard the A321neos to a staggering 44.

By comparison, Delta Air Lines’ standard Airbus A321neos have 20 first class seats. It is important to note that we are referring to domestic first class, which is comparable to international premium economy class on most airlines. Although the onboard experience in a domestic first class seat cannot compare with a fully lie-flat business class bed as was originally intended, this plan at least allows Delta Air Lines to put the aircraft to use.

Delta Air Lines’ Premium Transcontinental Services

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Delta Air Lines plans to deploy its specially configured Airbus A321neos on some of its transcontinental routes, which span the width of the US. In order to make the aircraft viable, the route must have enough premium business and leisure traffic to fill the business class cabin. Such routes normally connect key hubs and business centers such as New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Currently, the carrier deploys a variety of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft on these routes, with the use of widebody aircraft with a high premium capacity signaling the level of demand for premium services. Some of these routes and the aircraft currently deployed on them are outlined in the table below:

Delta Air Lines & The Airbus A321neo

Credit: Delta Air Lines

The Airbus A321neo is the perfect aircraft to replace Delta Air Lines’ aging Boeing 757-200s, thanks to their similar capacity and range. They are also much more fuel efficient than their older counterparts, reducing operating costs and offering significant savings to operators.

Delta Air Lines took delivery of its first Airbus A321neo in 2022 and now has a total of 84 in its fleet. However, only 79 of these are currently operational, with the remaining five being stored, as mentioned above. That said, the aircraft has still become a key component of the carrier’s narrowbody fleet plans, offering improved range and enhanced passenger comfort as well as increased operational efficiency.

Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A321neos are powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, offering quieter performance and significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft. This supports the airline’s broader sustainability goals, including its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows that in recent days, Delta Air Lines’ fleet of existing Airbus A321neos have operated a wide variety of routes across the carrier’s extensive network, with some examples shown in the table below:

Delta Air Lines & The Boeing 757

Credit: Simple Flying

While the Airbus A321neo is a relatively new aircraft to Delta Air Lines’ fleet, the Boeing 757 is anything but. The 757 has played a pivotal role in the carrier’s fleet for decades, serving as a workhorse across both domestic and international routes. Introduced to Delta Air Lines’ fleet in the 1980s, the 757 has proven to be a flexible and reliable aircraft, capable of operating short transcontinental flights, medium-haul routes, and even transatlantic crossings.

One of the main reasons Delta Air Lines has retained the Boeing 757 for so long is its unique performance capabilities. The aircraft’s powerful engines and narrowbody design allow it to operate from shorter runways and fly long distances, such as to smaller European cities from the US East Coast – something that few other narrowbodies can match. This has allowed the carrier to offer nonstop transatlantic service from key hubs such as New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to secondary European destinations without needing a widebody aircraft.

However, Delta Air Lines’ fleet of 99 Boeing 757s (made up of 83 757-200s and 16 757-300s) are now starting to show their age – perhaps unsurprising, given that the aircraft’s average age is well over 23 years old. The aircraft also feature Delta Air Lines’ older business class cabin, making them increasingly uncompetitive on key premium transcontinental routes.

Which Aircraft Is Best For Transcontinental Operations?

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Delta Air Lines often deploys a variety of narrowbody and widebody aircraft on its transcontinental routes. With their high capacity, including larger premium cabins, some may say that widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 767-400ER and the Airbus A330-900 are ideal for such routes.

However, recent trends have seen the majority of airlines reverting to narrowbody aircraft for their transcontinental operations, including the likes of American Airlines and JetBlue. United Airlines hopes to deploy its upcoming Boeing 737 MAX 10s on transcontinental services once the aircraft is eventually certified. These smaller aircraft allow carriers to operate a higher frequency of flights, offering passengers more flexibility, which, for high-paying premium business and leisure passengers, is a key selling point.

It remains to be seen when Delta Air Lines’ Airbus A321neos will take to the skies with their originally intended interiors. However, at least in the meantime, the carrier is putting the aircraft to good use by temporarily refitting them with its existing domestic first class seating. This may not offer quite the same passenger experience as Delta Air Lines’ lie-flat business class beds, but it allows the carrier to replace its aging Boeing 757s on key transcontinental routes.