Delta Air Lines said Monday it plans to buy 100 of the largest variant of Boeing’s 737 Max, even as Boeing races to get regulatory approval for that version of the jet before the end of the year.
The order is Delta’s first for the Max and a boon for Boeing. A nearly two-year global ban on the plane, prompted by two fatal crashes, helped Boeing fall behind in a competition for orders against its rival Airbus. In late 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration allowed two medium-sized versions of the aircraft – the Max 8 and Max 9 – to fly again once certain repairs were made.
Delta’s order is for the Max 10, the largest variant of the aircraft. If Boeing is unable to get regulatory approval for the plane by the December deadline, it would have to make significant changes to cockpit deck warning systems under a recently passed law unless Congress intervenes. That would eliminate a major selling point of the aircraft: its similarity to other Max variants, eliminating the need for pilots to be trained individually for each model of the aircraft.
Delta expects to receive the first deliveries of the aircraft in 2025. At list prices, the order is valued at nearly $13.5 billion, although Boeing typically discount such large orders.
In an interview this month with Aviation Week, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said he was optimistic Boeing could go ahead without a cockpit deck overhaul, but indicated he was open to canceling the Max 10 if that is not the case. Delta said in a statement it had “adequate protection” in the event of any delay in the expected certification of the Max 10, including switching to another Max model.
Delta said the order, which includes an option for an additional 30 aircraft, is in line with its long-term strategy. The Max 10 is expected to deliver “economic benefits” due to its ability to carry more passengers on a given trip and will be 20 to 30 percent more fuel efficient than the aircraft it will replace, the airline said. Nearly a third of the seats on the Max 10 will be in first class or Delta Comfort+, serving the airline’s focus on premium travel.
“The Boeing 737-10 will be an important addition to Delta’s fleet as we shape a more sustainable future for air travel, with an enhanced customer experience, improved fuel efficiency and best-in-class performance,” said Ed Bastian, Delta CEO. .
