Delta said near deal to buy 75 Bombardier C series aircraft

Delta is nearing an agreement to buy 75 Bombardier Inc. C Series, a person familiar with the talks said, potentially handing the Canadian planemaker a resounding victory in its bid to turn around the struggling aircraft program.<br/>The purchase also would include options for 50 more of the single-aisle jet to replace some of the oldest and smallest planes in Delta’s fleet, said the person. The stakes are high for Bombardier, which is still trying to land a marquee US customer for the C Series. United Continental twice this year opted for Boeing Co.’s 737 rather than the Bombardier plane. Bloomberg News reported Friday that Delta was nearing a decision on upgrading its single-aisle fleet as it seeks to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-88 workhorse jets. “Bombardier needs this order,” said George Ferguson, senior analyst for aerospace and airlines at Bloomberg Intelligence. Delta will have to train pilots on the plane and stock up on spare parts to add the C Series to its fleet, he said. “If there’s any airline that’s well positioned to handle an absolute mix of aircraft, it’s definitely Delta.” A final decision hasn’t been made, Delta said in an e-mailed statement. A Bombardier spokeswoman declined to comment. <br/>