ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines announced today that it has revised its Mainline fleet strategy for 2002 and 2003 to achieve operational and cost efficiencies while continuing its program to modernize its fleet for improved customer service.
Delta will take delivery in 2002 and 2003 of 13 new aircraft but has deferred delivery in 2002 and 2003 of 39 aircraft (20 firm orders; of the 52 aircraft originally planned for delivery during this period.
In addition, Delta will accelerate the planned retirement of its entire Boeing 727 fleet from early 2005 to late 2003. The B727s will rotate out of service as the new aircraft enter. Delta has fifty B727s. This action strengthens Delta's fleet renewal plan and allows for immediate operating cost benefits to be realized while maintaining capacity targets for 2002.
Deferring delivery of some aircraft is an important component of Delta's program to control capital spending in the current challenging business environment while continuing to modernize its fleet for improved operating costs and better customer service.
Deliveries of the deferred aircraft now
are moved to 2004 and beyond.
Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, Delta took title of 11 aircraft in late December 2001. These aircraft will be transitioned into Delta's network schedule throughout 2002 and will be used as replacement aircraft to begin funding the accelerated 727 retirement schedule.
Total aircraft deliveries in 2001 were 38.
"Delta will continue to exercise its flexibility in fleet acquisition and continue to manage capacity with demand. The strength of Delta's balance sheet provided us with an excellent opportunity related to aircraft deliveries and retirements, and we maximized it," said M. Michele Burns, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Friday
April 11th, 2025
7:45AM
