Boeing Commercial Airplanes delivered the first new-model 737 to Delta Air Lines, marking the start of what Delta has described as its “fleet renewal.” The airline ordered 100 of the Next-Generation 737-900ER jets in 2011, an order that Boeing reported then as having a listed value above $8.5 billion.
"We have been looking forward to celebrating this delivery with Delta and are proud to see the Next-Generation 737-900ER join its fleet," stated John Wojick, senior vice president of Global Sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The Next-Generation 737-900ER (Extended Range) is the newest version of Boeing’s 737 series, the world's best-selling jet and one widely used by carriers for medium-range routes. In in commercial service since 2007 -- it is capable of carrying up to 180 passengers in a two-class layout. It has the highest capacity and lowest seat-mile cost of all Boeing single-aisle jets, and it will allow Delta to match capacity to market demand with economic efficiency, the OEM stated.
"The 737-900ER is the perfect airplane to replace the older, less efficient airplanes in our single-aisle fleet," said Delta president Ed Bastian said in 2011. "Reliability and fuel efficiency are direct contributors to our financial performance. The 737-900ER will provide us a reliable airplane with the lowest fuel burn in our domestic fleet."
