Delta Air Lines fleet


, the Delta Air Lines fleet consists of 987 mainline aircraft, making it the third largest commercial airline fleet in the world. Prior to its 2008 merger with Northwest Airlines, Delta mostly operated aircraft built in the United States. The merger introduced Airbus models, now the majority, into Delta’s fleet. Historically, Delta has favored used and older-generation aircraft to lower acquisition costs. Its in-house MRO division, Delta TechOps, plays a key role in efficiently managing the complexity of this diverse fleet, while also generating revenue servicing aircraft and engines for other airlines. Delta operates the world's largest passenger subfleets of Airbus A220, Boeing 717, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and Airbus A330 aircraft. Wide-body aircraft including the Airbus A330, Airbus A350, and Boeing 767, are deployed on long-haul routes to Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America., Delta's average fleet age is 14.9 years.

Fleet renewal

, Delta continued to refresh its fleet of 975 mainline and 317 regional aircraft with orders of 294 new and more fuel-efficient aircraft with increased premium seating and cargo capacity to replace retiring aircraft, while modifying existing aircraft cabins to increase premium offerings and harmonize interiors. Since its merger with Northwest Airlines, Delta has retired its Boeing 737-700, 747-100, 747-400, 777, and its McDonnell Douglas DC-9, MD-88, and MD-90 sub-fleets. During that time, Delta made innovative deals, including a lease of 88 used Boeing 717 aircraft from Boeing and Southwest Airlines in 2012, an order for 75 Bombardier CS100 aircraft in April 2016 at a steep discount for less than $20m each, well below their $33.2m production cost, which led Boeing to accuse the manufacturer of dumping the aircraft, and the acquisition of purchase rights for 10 LATAM Airlines Airbus A350 aircraft on order as part of a deal to acquire a 20% equity stake in LATAM Airlines Group in September 2019.

Fleet

, Delta Air Lines operates the following mainline aircraft:

Fleet history

AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredReplacementNotes
Airbus A310-200919911995Boeing 767-300ERFormer Pan American World Airways fleet.
Airbus A310-3002319911996Boeing 767-300ERFormer Pan American World Airways fleet.
Boeing 727-100819721977Boeing 727-200Former Northeast Airlines fleet.
Boeing 727-20018319722003Boeing 737-800
Boeing 757-200
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
One crashed as Flight 1141.
Boeing 737-2007519832006Boeing 737-800
McDonnell Douglas MD-88
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
One damaged as Flight 1581.
Boeing 737-3003119872006Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-7001020082020Airbus A220
Airbus A319-100
Early retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeing 747-100519701977Lockheed L-1011 TriStarEarly retirement due to the 1970s energy crisis.
Boeing 747-4001620082018Airbus A350-900Former Northwest Airlines fleet.
Last major passenger 747 operator in North America.
N661US ship 6301, the first 747-400 is displayed at the Delta Flight Museum. The aircraft was involved in a rudder hardover incident in 2002.
Boeing 767-2001519822006Boeing 737-800
Boeing 757-200
Boeing 767-300ER
N102DA ship 102 named The Spirit Of Delta, is displayed at the Delta Flight Museum.
Boeing 767-3002819862019Airbus A321-200
Boeing 737-900ER
Boeing 767-300ER
Boeing 777-200ER819992020Airbus A330-900
Airbus A350
Early retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Boeing 777-200LR1020082020Airbus A330-900
Airbus A350
Early retirement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Convair CV-240 family1819531970McDonnell Douglas DC-9Originally decided to buy Martin 2-0-2s but in 1951 ordered ten CV-340s instead.
Eight CV-440s were delivered from 1956 and Delta modified retrospectively its 340s to 440s.
Convair CV-240 family1019531970McDonnell Douglas DC-9Ordered by Chicago and Southern Air Lines were delivered to Delta due to their merger in 1953.
Convair CV-8801719601973Boeing 727-200One written off as Flight 954.
Curtiss C-46 Commando519571967Lockheed L-100
Douglas DC-32119401960Convair CV-240 family
Douglas DC-3319401960Curtiss C-46 CommandoAcquired after World War II and operated between 1946 and 1957.
Douglas DC-61219491968Douglas DC-8
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
Passenger amenities included a six-person lounge in the rear of the cabin and two pairs of aft-facing seats in the forward cabin.
Douglas DC-71119541968Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-7B1019541968Douglas DC-8
Douglas DC-8-112219591981Boeing 727-200Operated the world's first scheduled DC-8 service on September 18, 1959.
DC-8-11s were converted to -12s then further converted to -51s.
One crashed at Flight 9877.
Two hijacked as Flight 841 and Flight 821.
Douglas DC-8-122219591981Boeing 727-200Operated the world's first scheduled DC-8 service on September 18, 1959.
DC-8-11s were converted to -12s then further converted to -51s.
One crashed at Flight 9877.
Two hijacked as Flight 841 and Flight 821.
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-332219591981Boeing 727-200Operated the world's first scheduled DC-8 service on September 18, 1959.
DC-8-11s were converted to -12s then further converted to -51s.
One crashed at Flight 9877.
Two hijacked as Flight 841 and Flight 821.
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-512219591981Boeing 727-200Operated the world's first scheduled DC-8 service on September 18, 1959.
DC-8-11s were converted to -12s then further converted to -51s.
One crashed at Flight 9877.
Two hijacked as Flight 841 and Flight 821.
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-611319671989Boeing 757-200
McDonnell Douglas DC-8-711319671989Boeing 757-200Leased from UPS Airlines.
Converted in-house to DC-8-71s in 1982-83.
Fairchild Hiller FH-227519721974McDonnell Douglas DC-9Former Northeast Airlines fleet.
Lockheed L-100 Hercules519661973-Retired after delivery of wide-body passenger aircraft with large under-floor cargo compartments.
Lockheed L-100 Hercules319661973-Converted to L-100-20 by Lockheed.
Various replacement aircraft were leased from Lockheed during the conversion program.
Lockheed L-749 Constellation1019531958Douglas DC-7Acquired through the purchase of Chicago & Southern Air Lines.
Lockheed L-1011 TriStar7019732001Boeing 767Largest L-1011 operator, including the long-range L-1011-500.
One crashed as Flight 191.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-141719651973Boeing 737-200Launch customer.
One crashed as Flight 9570.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-307719671993Boeing 737-200One crashed as Flight 723.
One hijacked as Flight 523.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-302720102010Boeing 717-200
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Former Northwest Airlines fleet.
Never wore Delta livery.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-411220102011Boeing 717-200
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Former Northwest Airlines fleet.
Never wore Delta livery.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-513420102014Boeing 717-200
McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Former Northwest Airlines fleet.
N782NC ship 9873 preserved at Northland Community & Technical College.
N767NC ship 9858 preserved at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport for fire training.
N675MC ship 9880 preserved at Delta Flight Museum.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10519721976Lockheed L-1011 TriStarOrdered in 1971 due to delays in the development of the Lockheed TriStar, sold to United Airlines before delivery then leased back by Delta.
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10919871988Lockheed L-1011 TriStarFormer Western Airlines fleet.
McDonnell Douglas MD-111719902004Boeing 767
Boeing 777-200ER
McDonnell Douglas MD-8812019872020Airbus A220
Airbus A321-200
Boeing 737-900ER
Retirement accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
All aircraft are currently stored.
One was written off as Delta Air Lines Flight 1086.
One was damaged as Delta Air Lines Flight 1288.
6519952020Airbus A220
Airbus A321-200
Boeing 737-900ER
Retirement accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
First and final MD-90 operator.