Delta to purchase a lot of CRJ’s

Good news if you like CRJ’s… or terrible news if you hate CRJ’s and fly Delta.

Delta have placed an order for 40 Bombardier CRJ900’s, with options for another 30 CRJ900’s if needed.

The jets will be operated by Delta Connection carriers as needed, and will configured with 76 seats in a two-class layout, configured with 12 first class seats, 12 Economy Comfort Seats and 52 seats in Economy.

Deliveries of these jets will commence in the second half of 2013 as Delta phases out 60 CRJ-200’s from service.

Looking at numbers, Delta has a massive fleet of CRJ’s available to it:

• 286 CRJ-200’s
• 79 CRJ-700’s
• 101 CRJ-900’s

The CRJ 900’s are currently operated by Pinnacle Airlines, ExpressJet Airlines and SkyWest Airlines – all operating as Delta Connection.

Delta President Ed Bastian says:

“The economics and customer features of the Bombardier CRJ900 made it the right aircraft to add to our Delta Connection fleet,”

“Combined with the removal of 50-seat aircraft, this opportunity bolsters our ongoing fleet restructuring program to remove less efficient, smaller regional aircraft from the system.

On the plus side, Delta are getting shot of CRJ-200’s – and lets face it – those are some of the worst aircraft in the air, being tight and cramp – and not comfortable for a flight of any length. Saying that the CRJ-900 whilst longer than a CRJ-200 is still not my favourite aircraft – again, it just feels tight no matter the configuration due to the curvature and size of the cabin.