Business

Delta to retire another 17% of its plane fleet earlier than planned

Airline reacts to financial pressure from pandemic.

By Kristen Leigh Painter

September 28, 2020 at 11:07PM
Delta Air Lines says it will retire more aircraft earlier than planned, including 91 Boeing 717s like the one shown here.
Delta Air Lines says it will retire more aircraft earlier than planned, including 91 Boeing 717s like the one shown here. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Delta Air Lines revealed plans to retire hundreds more airplanes earlier than expected, reflecting a grim outlook for air travel.

It is the latest in a series of downsizing initiatives aimed at stabilizing the airline amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Delta will phase out 49 Boeing 767-300ERs and 91 Boeing 717s in the next five years, or 17% of its fleet of 804 aircraft, the Atlanta-based carrier said in a securities filing.

The company will also retire its 50-seat CRJ-200 jets that are operated by its Delta Connection regional carriers by the end of 2023.

Delta pilots based at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport who fly the 717 will be transitioned to other aircraft, like the Boeing 737, Airbus A330 or Airbus A320 family, a spokesman said.

Delta retired its MD-88 and MD-90 fleets in June. It previously said it would retire its 12 Boeing 777s.

Also in the filing, Delta said it raised $9 billion in new financing, $6 billion backed by its SkyMiles loyalty program.

Kristen Leigh Painter

A ground member for Midwest Airlines directs the pilot of a Midwest Boeing 717 away from the gate at Mitchell International Airport, Friday, July 7,2006. Midwest is allowed to exempt the Boeing 717 aircraft from property tax after the Wisconsin State Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling upholding the tax. Oak Creek-based Midwest Airlines Inc. (MEH) and Air Wisconsin Airlines Corp., Appleton, won on as the Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled 5-2. to uphold the exemption. The lawsuit had been
Delta Air Lines will retire 91 Boeing 717s, like this one belonging to Midwest Airlines, and 49 Boeing 767-300ERs over the next five years, a full 17% of its fleet of 804 aircraft. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Kristen Leigh Painter

Business Editor

Kristen Leigh Painter is the business editor.

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