ATLANTA, April 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air
Lines (NYSE: DAL) will continue its narrowbody fleet renewal with
the state-of-the-art Bombardier C Series, providing for added
network flexibility with more fuel-efficient mainline aircraft.
As the U.S. launch customer, Delta's firm order for 75 CS100s
allows the company to cost-effectively reshape and upgauge
its narrowbody fleet, providing an improved customer experience and
better cost efficiency while maintaining a focus on prudent capital
deployment.
"As we reshape our fleet for the future, the innovative onboard
experience of the C Series is a perfect complement for the
top-notch service provided every day by Delta people," said Ed
Bastian, Delta's incoming chief
executive. "These new aircraft are a solid
investment, allowing us to take advantage
of superior operating economics, network flexibility
and best-in-class fuel performance."
This transaction is part of Delta's domestic strategy to upgauge
the fleet, allowing the company to achieve its long-term financial
targets, including 15 percent EPS growth and generation of
$4-5 billion in free cash flow
annually, while replacing less efficient domestic aircraft. With
the order of the C Series, Delta will no longer induct the E190
into its fleet as planned.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney's latest geared turbofan PW1500G
engine, the CS100 takes advantage of advanced technology and
composite materials designed to deliver an expected 20 percent
improvement in fuel efficiency over similar sized aircraft when it
enters service with Delta in spring 2018. The reduced noise and
emissions of the C Series aligns with Delta's broader goal to
reduce the airline's environmental footprint.
"We are very proud to welcome Delta as a C Series customer and
to expand our partnership with such a prestigious airline," said
Alain Bellemare, President and Chief
Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. "Given Delta's position as one
of the world's largest and most respected airlines, this deal is a
strong endorsement of the C Series as the best performing aircraft
in the 100-150 passenger class. The addition of Delta to our
marquee C Series customer list gives us tremendous momentum as we
approach entry-into-service this summer."
The CS100 features a state-of-the-art interior with the
largest windows in the single-aisle market, full-spectrum ambient
lighting, seatback in-flight entertainment, in-flight Wi-Fi,
high-capacity overhead bins and among the widest seats of any
narrowbody aircraft in a customer-preferred two-by-three Main Cabin
and Delta Comfort+ configuration, as well as a two-by-two First
Class layout.
Bombardier's all-new, lightweight mainline aircraft will be
deployed on short- to medium-haul routes throughout the airline's
network. As part of this transaction, Delta has options for 50
additional C Series aircraft and certain delivery flexibility
rights including the ability to substitute the larger CS300
aircraft. The order means Delta will fly customers on more
Bombardier aircraft than any other carrier.
Delta has been replacing inefficient, older technology airplanes
generating substantial cost improvement and increased customer
satisfaction. Since 2009, Delta has retired 280 50-seat regional
jets and more than 130 older, narrowbody aircraft, while refreshing
its fleet with over 300 aircraft.
Delta is phasing out some of the airline's less fuel-efficient
planes. Fuel use per passenger mile has been reduced by 8 percent
since 2008. The C Series transaction, combined with orders for
other narrow and widebody aircraft will reduce the carbon footprint
of the fleet and supports Delta's financial and environmental
strategy to consume less fuel.
Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts,
including statements regarding our estimates, expectations,
beliefs, intentions, projections or strategies for the future, may
be "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking
statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates,
expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections and strategies
reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited
to, the cost of aircraft fuel; the impact of rebalancing our hedge
portfolio, recording mark-to-market adjustments or posting
collateral in connection with our fuel hedge contracts; the
availability of aircraft fuel; the effects of terrorist attacks or
geopolitical conflict; the possible effects of accidents involving
our aircraft; the restrictions that financial covenants in our
financing agreements will have on our financial and business
operations; labor issues; interruptions or disruptions in service
at one of our hub or gateway airports; disruptions or security
breaches of our information technology infrastructure; our
dependence on technology in our operations; the effects of weather,
natural disasters and seasonality on our business; the effects of
an extended disruption in services provided by third party regional
carriers; failure or inability of insurance to cover a significant
liability at Monroe's Trainer
refinery; the impact of environmental regulation on the Trainer
refinery, including costs related to renewable fuel standard
regulations; our ability to retain management and key employees;
competitive conditions in the airline industry; the effects of
extensive government regulation on our business; the sensitivity of
the airline industry to prolonged periods of stagnant or weak
economic conditions; and the effects of the rapid spread of
contagious illnesses.
Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that
could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking
statements is contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended Dec. 31, 2015.
Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our
forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of
April 28, 2016, and which we have no
current intention to update.
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SOURCE Delta Air Lines