Airbus entered the civil aviation market in the 1970s with the introduction of with the A300B aircraft. Employing 52,000 employees, Airbus is a key player in aircraft innovation.
Delta operates two families of the Airbus. The Airbus A319-100 and A320-200 are members the A320 family. The Airbus A319-100 has a range of 2,500 miles while the Airbus A320-200 has a range of 3,009 miles.
The Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 are members of the A330/A340 family. The A330-200 has a range of 7,767 miles. The A330-300 has a range of 6,524 miles.
Boeing is the largest manufacturer of commercial and military aircraft in the world. Employing 158,000 employees in the United States and 70 countries worldwide, the company is a leader in aerospace technology. As a service provider to NASA, Boeing is instrumental in the operation of the space shuttle and the International Space Station. Delta's fleet includes seven Boeing aircraft models.
The Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 are members of the 737 family. The Boeing 737 is the bestselling commercial aircraft worldwide. The 737 is classified as a short-to-medium-range airplane.
The Boeing 747-400 is a member of the 747 family. The 747-400 is the world's fastest commercial jetliner and the only 400-seat airplane.
Delta has four airplanes in the Boeing 757 family: the 757-200, 757-200 with live TV, 757-200ER Transatlantic and the 757-300. The 757 is classified as a short-to-medium-range jetliner. There were 1,050 planes manufactured in 23 years of production ending in 2005; 1,030 are still in service.
The Boeing 767-300 with live TV, 767-300ER, 767-300ER-G, 767-400ER Transatlantic and the 767-400ER Transatlantic (with flat bed seats) are members of the 767 family. The 767 is an eco-friendly airplane, burning less fuel and producing fewer pollutants per pound of fuel than comparably sized aircraft.
The Boeing 777-200ER and the 777-200LR are members of the 777 family. The 777 family includes five models of passenger aircraft with a range capability of 5,240 to 9,395 nautical miles. The 777-200LR is the world's longest range commercial aircraft.
The McDonnell Douglas Corp. began operation in 1967. Their products included military and commercial aircraft, spacecraft and boosters, missiles and other electronic services. The company was acquired by Boeing in 1996. Delta Air Lines has five models of McDonnell Douglas aircraft in their fleet.
The McDonnell Douglas DC9-30, DC9-40, DC9-50, MD-88 and MD-90 are all members of the DC9 family. The DC9 is classified as a short-to-medium-range aircraft. It began commercial service in 1965 with Delta. The MD-80 was the name given to a series of aircraft including the MD-88. The MD-80 was designed as an improved version of the DC9. It was replaced by the MD-90.
Manufacture of the McDonnell Douglas aircraft ended when Boeing acquired the company, but many of the airplanes are still in service.
