Delta Air Lines in talks with Boeing for 100 737 Max 10 jets
Boeing is edging towards a landmark order from Delta Air Lines for up to 100 of its 737 MAX 10 jets, a model it is battling in separate talks to get approved before year-end rule changes, people familiar with the matter said.
The deal, if confirmed, would be the first order from Delta for Boeing’s best-selling single-aisle airplane family, and the first major Boeing order for the carrier in a decade.
It comes as Delta – the only major U.S. carrier without a 737 Max on order – reshapes its fleet in anticipation of a swift recovery from the pandemic.
Boeing and Delta, which have had a frayed relationship in past years, are working on details of an order that could consist of 100 aircraft, many or all of which could involve the largest variant, the 737-10 Max, two of the people said.
If a deal is reached, an announcement could come as soon as next month, one of the people added.
Boeing and Delta declined to comment.
Industry sources cautioned negotiations typically go down to the wire and no final decision had been taken. There has been speculation about a Max order from Delta in the past, without a deal coming to fruition.
The 737-10 Max competes with Airbus’ strongest-selling model, the A321neo. Both planes are aimed at the fast-growing segment of the market just above 200 seats.
The A321neo, which leasing company Air Lease described on Wednesday as the “hottest airplanes in the market”, has a commanding lead in sales, but Boeing has scored a series of contract wins in the past year.
Airbus also declined to comment.
In September, Airline Weekly quoted Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian as saying there was a place for the MAX at Delta if the carrier could figure out how to bring them in.
Asked about the MAX in London earlier this month, he told reporters Delta was always looking at all airplane models.
Reuters.com by Eric M. Johnson in Seattle, David Shepardson in Washington, and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Editing by Tim Hepher and Jan Harvey