Delta Air Lines and Boeing are advancing in negotiations to finalize the purchase of up to 100 737 MAX 10 aircraft, as reported Friday by Reuters.
According to the agency, Delta CEO Ed Bastian has been analyzing the idea of incorporating the U.S. model into its fleet since 2020. In such one, Airbus aircraft currently predominate. This is given in a context in which the European manufacturer is having difficulties with its suppliers to increase the production rate of the A320neo family, the MAX’s main competitor.
The order would be the largest between the U.S. manufacturer and Delta in more than a decade. In 2011 the carrier ordered 100 Boeing 737-900ERs.
Once the deal is finalized, Delta Air Lines would join Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines as the U.S. carriers that own Boeing 737 MAXs. Allegiant Air also recently surprised by ordering 50 MAX aircraft with an option to purchase 50 more.
“We’re talking to Boeing about a lot of different things, the MAX included. If there is an opportunity where we feel comfortable acquiring the MAX we would have no hesitation doing that,” said Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian in 2020.
According to information obtained through Ch-Aviation, Delta’s narrowbody fleet consists of:
- 44 Airbus A220-100s, pending receipt of one additional aircraft.
- 10 Airbus A220-300s, pending receipt of 40 additional aircraft.
- 57 Airbus A319ceo
- 56 Airbus A320ceo.
- Order for 155 Airbus A321neo to replace Boeing 757-200s.
- 77 Boeing 737-800.
- 159 Boeing 737-900ER.
- 111 Boeing 757-200s.
- 16 Boeing 757-300.
Boeing would gain a new customer for the MAX, but with problems in the way
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has yet to certify the 737 MAX 10, and that process could drag into next year, as the MAX 7 variant is delayed.
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The model sought by Delta can accommodate between 188 and 230 passengers, with a range of 6,110 km with an auxiliary tank, helping to speed up the replacement of the Boeing 757.
According to the information that transcended, at the end of 2020, the U.S. Congress passed the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act, the Aircraft Safety and Certification Reform Act.
The law states that two years after its passage, any aircraft to be certified by the FAA must have a cockpit alert system, known as Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS).
These are systems that help the crew differentiate, prioritize and respond to the various audible and visual warnings, cautions, and alerts that are activated during flight. The MAX 7 and MAX 10 variants were included within this law. Hence it would involve upgrading internal systems, further delaying deliveries.
The Boeing 737 MAX has acquired the components of the Boeing 737 NG. By 2020 the first MAX passed the certification, however, the MAX 7 and 10 remained within the law. Therefore, this would imply renewing the internal systems of the model, delaying even more the deliveries.
According to Boeing, it is working to reach the required certification of the model in due time and form.
