Delta buys 100 Boeing Max planes, its first major order with the manufacturer in more than a decade

The first major order for new aircraft from the US manufacturer in more than a decade is being made by Delta Air Lines.

There are options for more planes. The first deliveries are expected to take place in the year 2025.

The good news for Boeing is that the new order is from a Chinese airline. When that order was announced, Boeing was upset.

The Max planes will be 20%- 30% more fuel efficient than the jetliners they will replace.

Atlanta-based Delta is the only one of the top four US carriers that hasn't ordered new Boeing jets in the last few years. During the H1N1, Delta retired older Boeings and has been taking more deliveries of the A350s.

The second of two fatal crashes in the last 18 months resulted in the grounding of the MAX. The grounding was lifted by the U.S. The deliveries of new Maxes were paused, which caused capacity constraints for Delta's competitors.

The Max 10 model isn't yet approved by the government. The approval of the planes by the end of the year is Boeing's goal. The new planes will have to have a cockpit alert system.

There was an order for Max planes mentioned by Delta's CEO. At a recent investor conference, Bastian stated that they were trying to get a deal done with Boeing on the narrow-body planes.

Boeing and Delta were both up in premarket trading.

The majority of Delta's new orders in the last few years have come from Europe.

Delta ordered the C-Series narrow-body planes from Bombardier during the trade dispute between Boeing and Canada. Bombardier was accused by Boeing of selling the planes below cost. The planes were renamed the A 220.