Airbus wins $4.3 billion Delta order for single-aisle A321s

Airbus Group won an order for 37 A321 single-aisle jetliners from Delta Air Lines valued at $4.3 billion at list prices, consolidating the European planemaker’s role as a major supplier to the U.S. carrier.

The A321s will replace older-generation jets including smaller Boeing MD-88s, Atlanta-based Delta said. The airline had already ordered 45 A321s from Airbus in two batches, the last in June 2014, and the new planes will be delivered concurrently with those aircraft.

Boeing has been losing out to Airbus in the largest narrow-body jet category after ending production of its 757 more than a decade ago. The U.S. company is contemplating development of an all-new model as the A321 and updated A321neo, seating 180 to 240 passengers, win more orders than its largest 737.

Airbus sales chief John Leahy said the A321’s capacity and range make it ideally suited to flying within North America, or on routes across the Atlantic from the eastern U.S. when fitted with an extra fuel tank. JetBlue Airways said Tuesday it was “very seriously” considering the long-range A321LR model.

Bloomberg

This story was originally published April 29, 2016 at 2:39 PM with the headline "Airbus wins $4.3 billion Delta order for single-aisle A321s."