US-based Delta Air Lines has expanded its order with Airbus for 30 additional A321ceo aircraft, which will be powered by CFM International’s CFM56 engines.

The order is in addition to three previous Delta orders for the same aircraft type, and has brought the carrier’s total order for the A321 variant to 112.

As part of the deal, the airline has also agreed to postpone deliveries of ten of the previously ordered 25 A350-900 aircraft by two to three years or more.

The aircraft were earlier scheduled to be delivered by 2019-2020.

Delta Air Lines senior executive vice-president and chief operating officer Gil West said: “The A321’s comfort, performance and economics make it a very compelling aircraft for Delta in our domestic route network.

“We value our longstanding partnership with Airbus and look forward to taking more new A321 aircraft for the benefit of our customers, employees and shareowners.”

Ordered by Delta, the A321s will be equipped with Sharklets, which are lightweight composite wingtip devices that offer up to 4% savings in fuel consumption.

“The A321’s comfort, performance and economics make it a very compelling aircraft for Delta in our domestic route network."

Many of the airline’s A321s are expected to be delivered from Airbus’s facility in Mobile, Alabama, US, and will replace the aircraft currently serving the domestic routes in the country

Delta currently operates 19 A321s, and the latest expansion will bring the total firm delivery aircraft from 82 to 112 by 2021.

Image: A Delta aircraft in the sky. Photo: courtesy of Airbus.