That could change as soon as April 2022, according to insiders at both companies. In an exclusive report, Reuters claims the Atlanta-based carrier could be eyeing an order for up to 100 737 MAX-10 aircraft.
737 MAX-10 Order Could be First for Boeing and Delta
Rumors of the troubled 737 MAX coming to Delta have been circling since 2020, when the Chicago-based aerospace giant was reportedly pitching completed surplus airframes to Delta. Nearly a year later, Delta announced they would instead increase their Airbus A321neo orders to 155 total, ensuring new deliveries through 2027.
However, the reported change from Delta could come as the aviation industry is seeing a faster domestic travel recovery than previously anticipated. In previous comments at a 2021 Airline Weekly webinar, Delta chief executive Ed Bastian noted that there could be a place for the 737 MAX if the carrier could “figure out how to bring them in.”
There are several hurdles that still need to be considered before a public announcement could be made. Insiders at both companies say Delta is interested in the 737 MAX-10, the largest variant of the narrowbody airframe. Boeing is currently working with regulators to get the type certified ahead of a 2023 rule change on cockpit safety alert standards, after the company was stripped of their ability to self-certify 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
If Delta moves forward with the order, the MAX airframes would complement the airline’s current fleet of 239 737-800 and 737-900ER aircraft. The carrier retired the last of their 737-700 airframes in 2020 on an accelerated timeline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Neither Boeing nor Delta commented on the Reuters report.
Since Re-Certification, 737 MAX Sales Become Bright Spot for Boeing
The 737 MAX has seen wide adoption by U.S. and international carriers since the airframe was re-certified for operations in 2020. In 2021, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines all added more airframes to their current 737 MAX orders, while Allegiant Airlines surprised the aviation world by announcing a firm order for 50 737 MAX-8 airframes in early 2022.
Source: frugal travel guy