Posted on 11/02/2018 11:42:34 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom
...the first newly designed large single-aisle airliner in nearly three decades. Delta Air Lines unveiled its new Airbus A220-100 Monday at its headquarters at Atlanta International Airport....employees lined up to tour Ship 8101, the first of 75 A220s that Delta is expected to bring into its fleet over the next two to three years. SWISS, Korean Air and airBaltic already fly these jets, but Delta will be the first carrier in the US. Taking the stage at the celebration, Delta CEO Ed Bastian welcomed the A220 as "a beautiful new member of the family."
This $81-million jet has racked up several firsts:
Delta plans to use the A220 as part of a fleet modernization program. Some airplanes on Delta's domestic routes are more than three decades old, with retro-fitted passenger seat power ports and no in-flight entertainment systems.
The A220s, along with about 100 other new jets, will replace 20% of older, less-efficient aircraft by 2020, according to Delta. The airline also plans to replace 25% of its domestic fleet over the next three years, Bastian said.
Once you step aboard this plane, you immediately notice it just feels bigger than a typical single-aisle airliner. Nearly 7-foot-high ceilings and windows larger than many other kinds of jets. The cabin is a spacious 10-feet, seven-inches wide.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
A bit more from CNN...
In Economy, travelers may like the seat width — measuring 18.6 inches — the widest main cabin seats in Delta’s fleet. If you’re wondering about leg room in coach, the seat pitch ranges from 30 to 32 inches. Delta’s Boeing 717s, which seat about the same number of passengers, have a seat pitch of 31 inches in economy. Another reason the main cabin feels big is the 2-3 seat configuration.
That means fewer middle seats — which is great news if you hate that “trapped feeling” some folks get when they’re in a middle seat.
If you’re in a window seat, you’ve got a bit more shoulder room, thanks to cleverly designed indentations in the cabin walls. For the window shades, this plane went old school. No push-button electronic dimmers required. Just your typical pull-down window shades...
Delta’s A220 also offers full LED spectrum lighting, so crew members can change the color and brightness of the interior light based on various moods throughout the day.
Main cabin seats will include seat-back screens for in-flight entertainment. In first class, the A220 offers the largest seatback in-flight entertainment screens in Delta’s fleet.
The jet’s Wi-FI uses a 2Ku satellite system, which Mapes said is the fastest in the fleet. It’s designed to provide around 70-100 megabits per second, he said, “which will allow anybody to do what they need.”
The jet can fly nearly 3,400 miles, so Delta says it plans to use it for direct routes to cities that don’t usually fill larger planes.
But for many aviation enthusiasts, the weirdest thing about the A220 is the fact that for the first time in Airbus’s nearly half-century-long history, it’s selling a plane designed and built by another company. How did that happen? Basically, France-based Airbus stepped in last year and bought a controlling interest in the plane from a rival manufacturer — Canada’s Bombardier.
Before that, the plane — and its larger version — actually had different names — the CS100 and CS300. Airbus simply renamed them the A220-100 and A220-300. Experts say Bombardier was driven to make the deal because they feared the Trump administration’s trade policies with Canada would sink the company. “Bombardier simply said, if we keep going with this program on our own, it’s doomed and it will drag us down with it,” Aboulafia said. “So by giving it to our arch rival, Airbus, then they can rescue it and at least we can build structures for it.” “Airbus has spent the past ten years trying to kill this jet — and now it gets it for free,” he said.
Of the four major US carriers, American Airlines boasts the youngest fleet. Its planes are an average of 10.5 years old, according to airfleets.net. Delta’s fleet is the oldest — averaging 16.3 years.
But that statistic will likely begin to change next year when Delta accepts delivery of new Airbus A330neos. These fuel-saving twin-engine widebodies will be used for medium haul trans-Atlantic routes and flights connecting Asia with the US West Coast.
Another jet — Boeing’s super-efficient 777-9X — is expected to make its first test flight next year. That plane — expected to be the world’s largest twin-engine jet — will have an all-metal body, but its wings will be made from light-weight, super strong carbon fiber composite material.
Delta
D. = Doesn’t
E. = Ever
L. = Leave
T. = The
A. = Airport
I flew that airline once 15 or so years ago. It was a multi leg flight and each leg was late, cancelled or rerouted. The service was awful. The staff attitude bordered on abusive and in one case was threatening. By a factor 25 or 30 the worst airline I’ve ever flown.
I arrived at my destination nearly 2 full days AFTER my scheduled conference presentation. Because I missed the conference the University of Hong Kong (Where I worked) refused to pay for the air fare or hotel bills saying it amounted to a vacation.
Never again. I’ll walk, row a boat or swim before I ever fly Delta again.
I guess at least now the poor passengers have a nicer plane to sit in while not flying.
A very POOR attempt at the b 737.
While likely competent, NOT a “Fat Albert”. EVER!
BTW, I like most Bombardier aircraft, and I think that Boeing are a bunch of anti-competitive thieves, but this is NOT something to crow about. Hell, there are many Brazilian aircraft that are VERY good...
Nevermind, the hounds have already got a scent.
Plastic seats. Ugh.
There is a new shopping mall a short bus ride from us. I read in the news that for the past three days its been open there have been three faulty fire-alarms and the whole place had to be emptied of people. We could go today.
We going!
It’s good practice.
I don’t see a forward cabin
A must for this sixty year old beat up six foot five 235 pounder
I ain’t flying coach unless it’s an emergency and last option
Coach seats and leg room. Is 25-30 percent less roomy than the 80s
I miss Ozark.
I miss Ozark too, and Midwest Express, and TWA, and, and, and.
As a Delta Platinum I can assure you that your acronym is incorrect. DELTA actually stands for Don’t Expect Luggage To Arrive.
For me it's Braniff (of blessed memory). Steak and French wine in Coach. Attractive and friendly flight attendants. Ah, the good old days...
So Airbus had to buy a controlling interest in another airplane mfg just to stay relevant. No wonder people still say “if it ain’t Boeing, I’m not going”
Delta is antigun garbage too
Unfortunately they were by far the cheapest for a small trip to the midwest and I chose them
Crossing fingers
Oh and carbon wings are no good against lightning
I really like the seats in Aleigent planes. The seats are like fiberglass shells that don’t recline, but they are really comfortable. And there is more leg room. The aisles are also wider.
I’m a 6’1” 230 pounder. I actually enjoyed our last flight from Louisville to Mesa. I normally hate flying when it’s not first class, and it’s rarely first class.
This is HILARIOIUS!!!!
Bombardier could not get orders for the CS100 and CS300. Nobody wanted the plane because it was poorly designed and inefficient compared to the competition.
Slap an Airbus label on it and the rubes lines up to buy them...probably only because they are selling far, far below the competition (737 Max and A320 Neo).
This is pure socialism where the Europeans bail out the Canadians and waste billions in taxpayer dollars in the process.
Bombardier should have gone under.
Give me Boeing or I ain’t going
I don’t fly much, but I flew Delta One BOS-SFO-BOS last month and it was pretty nice.
When I do have to fly, I have found Delta First Class on the 757 to be OK. They have a fare class which, if you purchase far enough in advance and accept a no change/no refund agreement, puts you in first for just a bit more than coach and less than refundable coach.
Our son flew delta, apparently they didn’t think there would be storms in Atlanta in the summer. He was delayed 12 hours, missed his connecting flight, then they lost his bags.
When I called their customer service to check on his 30 minute flight, the hold time was estimated at 45 minutes.
O and his initial flight, well it was delayed because the pilot didn’t show up.
It took him almost 24 hours to fly from Fort Polk to Knoxville, tn.
His bags showed up 3 days later.
We had a better experience with American Airlines.
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