Delta Orders 75 CS100's
 

Delta Orders State-of-the-Art, Fuel-Efficient Bombardier C Series
Order for 75 CS100 small narrowbody aircraft balances improved customer experience, operating economics with efficient capital deployment.

http://news.delta.com/delta-orders-s...rdier-c-series

ATLANTA, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will continue its narrowbody fleet renewal with the state-of-the-art Bombardier C Series, providing for added network flexibility with more fuel-efficient mainline aircraft.

As the U.S. launch customer, Delta's firm order for 75 CS100s allows the company to cost-effectively reshape and upgauge its narrowbody fleet, providing an improved customer experience and better cost efficiency while maintaining a focus on prudent capital deployment.
"As we reshape our fleet for the future, the innovative onboard experience of the C Series is a perfect complement for the top-notch service provided every day by Delta people," said Ed Bastian, Delta's incoming chief executive. "These new aircraft are a solid investment, allowing us to take advantage of superior operating economics, network flexibility and best-in-class fuel performance."
This transaction is part of Delta's domestic strategy to upgauge the fleet, allowing the company to achieve its long-term financial targets, including 15 percent EPS growth and generation of $4-5 billion in free cash flow annually, while replacing less efficient domestic aircraft. With the order of the C Series, Delta will no longer induct the E190 into its fleet as planned.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney's latest geared turbofan PW1500G engine, the CS100 takes advantage of advanced technology and composite materials designed to deliver an expected 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over similar sized aircraft when it enters service with Delta in spring 2018. The reduced noise and emissions of the C Series aligns with Delta's broader goal to reduce the airline's environmental footprint.
"We are very proud to welcome Delta as a C Series customer and to expand our partnership with such a prestigious airline," said Alain Bellemare, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. "Given Delta's position as one of the world's largest and most respected airlines, this deal is a strong endorsement of the C Series as the best performing aircraft in the 100-150 passenger class. The addition of Delta to our marquee C Series customer list gives us tremendous momentum as we approach entry-into-service this summer."
The CS100 features a state-of-the-art interior with the largest windows in the single-aisle market, full-spectrum ambient lighting, seatback in-flight entertainment, in-flight Wi-Fi, high-capacity overhead bins and among the widest seats of any narrowbody aircraft in a customer-preferred two-by-three Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ configuration, as well as a two-by-two First Class layout.
Bombardier's all-new, lightweight mainline aircraft will be deployed on short- to medium-haul routes throughout the airline's network. As part of this transaction, Delta has options for 50 additional C Series aircraft and certain delivery flexibility rights including the ability to substitute the larger CS300 aircraft. The order means Delta will fly customers on more Bombardier aircraft than any other carrier.
Delta has been replacing inefficient, older technology airplanes generating substantial cost improvement and increased customer satisfaction. Since 2009, Delta has retired 280 50-seat regional jets and more than 130 older, narrowbody aircraft, while refreshing its fleet with over 300 aircraft.
Delta is phasing out some of the airline's less fuel-efficient planes. Fuel use per passenger mile has been reduced by 8 percent since 2008. The C Series transaction, combined with orders for other narrow and widebody aircraft will reduce the carbon footprint of the fleet and supports Delta's financial and environmental strategy to consume less fuel.

Interesting, I was thinking it would be the CS300. I'm guessing these will have 90-100 seats?

Maybe a configuration similar to the 717 (12F, 20C+, 78Y = 110 total).

Wow..

Gotta love the 2-3 config...especially with upgrades harder to come by! 😄

I'm having doubts that the airlines will actually order a 19" middle seat. People seem to forget that the airline configures the interior, not the aircraft manufacturer. It just wouldn't make sense to have to keep a small supply of 19" seat cushions and coverings. Just keep it at 18.5" and you can swap parts and materials with all the other seats. Besides, Bombardier is kidding themselves if they think anyone in their right mind will pay MORE for a middle seat.

Will be interesting to see how these pan out for reliability and associated MX costs.

that was probably one of the big ???'s with respect to getting the order. I would think there are substantial guarantees on that front.

So this is the big April 28-29 announcement? It seems like an anticlimax.

Agree. Don't know much about the plane, but 2x3 in the back is much nicer than 3x3.

Guarantees might lessen the pain for DL shareholders but they don't get me to my destination or connection on time. DL has a lot of time (delivery to DL starts in 2018, right?) to learn from Swiss' experience. I hope they use it well.

Used order for 20 E-190s was cancelled. No mention of any top off order for A321 CEOs or 739s. I'm sure we'll hear something soon as the order books are not enough to completely replace the MD-88s. No word of when they start leaving the fleet but its safe to assume it could happen as early as next year. The Super 98 modification did not satisfy DL with fuel burn reduction hence it was cancelled and the MD-88s start leaving earlier than I think most on this board suspected. I'm guessing all MD-88s are gone between 2020 at the earliest and 2022 at the latest. Its great timing for DL to get a brand new aircraft to replace these aircraft unlike AA which has had to settle for A319/A321 CEOs and 737-800s as they couldn't wait any longer to replace the S80s.

If these are used to replace regional routes, TDR and OTP wouldn't be an issue. Regional partners don't have impeccable record either.

Delta Tech Ops is very capable so they will figure out a way to keep the fleet afloat.

I guess Delta will order anything but Boeing.

It's about 60 deliveries into two orders totaling 140 739ERs so I don't see a reason to pout.