Originally Posted by dragon

January 15, 2010


Delta is adding nine MD-90 aircraft purchased from China Eastern Airlines to its fleet, an acquisition that will make Delta the world’s second-largest operator of the aircraft.

Delta will receive the aircraft between February and July. Two additional MD-90s will be delivered from Boeing Capital, a division of the aircraft manufacturer, which will bring the total to 11 of the aircraft added to the fleet this year.

“Those MD-90s are quite flexible because they fit in our network,” said Hank Halter, Delta’s chief financial officer, at a recent event for Delta investors. “We’re not looking to grow capacity, but when there’s very inexpensive opportunities for lift, such as the MD-90, we’ll certainly consider it.”

The airplanes are the most efficient narrowbody aircraft in Delta’s fleet, Hank said, and provide a cost-effective tool for managing Delta’s capacity. The purchase will not add to Delta’s capacity, but will partially offset the reduction of DC-9s and regional jets in the fleet.

The current seating configuration for the aircraft is 150, with 12 in first class and 138 in coach. All of the jets will be upgraded with brand-new interiors before entering service.

Once the aircraft are received, Delta will have 28 MD-90s, the second-largest fleet in the world after Saudi Arabian Airlines, which has 29.