Delta Air Lines prepares Airbus A220 fleet as replacement for aging Boeing 717s

Delta now operates a fleet of 80 Boeing 717s, according to data from ch-aviation obtained by Simple Flying. Of these, most are active while some are undergoing maintenance or in storage. The average age of these aircraft is over 24 years, with individual planes ranging between approximately 19 and nearly 27 years old. Retirement dates for these jets begin this month and extend through December 2026.

With plans to retire all remaining Boeing 717s by late next year, Delta faces a need to fill a significant capacity gap across its domestic network. The airline appears likely to rely increasingly on its existing Airbus A220 fleet as replacements for retiring jets.

Delta already has experience with the Airbus A220 family, operating both -100 and -300 variants—currently totaling nearly eighty aircraft—and holding additional orders for more A220-300s. This makes Delta both the largest operator of A220s worldwide and currently the only U.S.-based carrier flying them.

The introduction of these jets prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was intended in part to phase out regional jet services due to limitations among Delta’s partner airlines operating smaller CRJ and ERJ fleets. The A220 offers improved range and efficiency compared to regional jets and can be deployed on numerous high-frequency domestic routes such as LaGuardia–Dallas/Fort Worth and Seattle–San Francisco.

Although not identical replacements—the A220 typically seats more passengers than Delta’s configuration for its Boeing 717s—the newer Airbus model offers longer range capabilities and maintains similar seating arrangements (a five-abreast layout), which minimizes middle seats for passengers.

Other passenger experience improvements include quieter cabins due to modern engines (though not rear-mounted) and larger overhead bins designed for increased carry-on capacity. Seat pitch across cabin classes on both types is comparable.

As retirement dates approach for each individual Boeing 717, Delta will need continued investment in newer models like the Airbus A220 to sustain its network reach while modernizing its fleet.