Delta Air Lines’ First-ever Airbus A321neo Arrives in Atlanta

Delta has taken delivery of its first-ever Airbus A321neo.

The airline joins many other carriers across the world that are already flying the popular aircraft type. The narrow-body A321neos are more fuel-efficient and are capable of flying longer routes, such as across the Atlantic to Europe from the East Coast. 

“Not only do these aircraft offer the best customer experience in the industry, but these fuel-efficient airplanes further demonstrate our commitment to a more sustainable future,” said Mahendra Nair, Senior Vice President of Fleet and Tech Operations Supply Chain at Delta.

Here’s all we know about Delta’s new jets.

Delta Welcomes First Airbus A321neo

The A321neo, registered N501DA, arrived in Atlanta on March 23, 2022, and is the first of 26 of the aircraft type to be delivered to the airline.

It’s common for carriers on both sides of the Atlantic to operate variants of the popular aircraft on international, long-haul routes between the U.S. and Europe.

However, Delta’s plans for the aircraft appear to have a U.S.-based operational focus instead.

“The delivery of our first A321neo helps to usher in the next era of premium domestic service at Delta,” said Nair.

The jets will comprise a total of 194 seats: 20 in domestic first class, 42 in Delta Comfort+, and 132 in main cabin.

Upfront, passengers will enjoy Delta’s new domestic first class seats that boast enhanced privacy, workspace, and storage. Direct-aisle access is not available at every seat.

Hot Tip: You can find direct-aisle access at every seat on some domestic U.S. flights in Flagship First on American Airlines Airbus A321T and select routes onboard JetBlue’s Airbus A321neos in Mint (similar to those found on its new transatlantic route between New York (JFK) and London (LHR)).

Despite not having direct-aisle access, the refreshed first class seats onboard Delta’s shiny new A321neos upgrade the customer experience to the level you might expect when flying premium cabins on international flights.

While details are yet to be released about the routes that the new jets will operate, we do know that the inaugural flight will depart from Boston (BOS) sometime in May 2022.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Delta decided to schedule these aircraft on premium transcontinental routes such as Boston (BOS) and New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX), replacing the antiquated Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft that currently operate the routes.

Final Thoughts

Delta has welcomed its very first Airbus A321neo into its fleet.

As well as bringing the airline into line with other airlines’ narrow-body jets, the modern jets bring with them more comfort for both passengers and the environment alike.

We’ll be sure to bring you an in-depth review of one of Delta’s new A321neos as soon as possible.