The first of 14 VIP-configured Airbus A321neo aircraft arrived to Delta Air Lines last week, which the airline will soon operate for the National Basketball Association (NBA). These planes will be a welcome replacement for the airline’s flying pencil, the Boeing 757-200. For Delta, the 757-200s for the NBA are leased from Aviation Capital Group and are at least three decades old.

As reported by Corporate Jet Investor, the new planes will have lie-flat beds, with elevated onboard interiors designed by Comlux. These aircraft are to be used to shuttle NBA players and coaches and other staff from game to game across the 30 teams nationwide. Delta will operate these aircraft with its operating certificate; however, the planes are not owned by the Atlanta-based carrier.

A Unique Arrangement For Delta Air Lines

Credit: Delta Air Lines

Over the next three years, a total of 14 of the type will be delivered and operated under the airline’s operating certificate, earmarked exclusively for the NBA through the peak season. During the league’s offseason, the airline will be permitted to use the planes for ad-hoc charters.

The first reports of this program were released in 2024, with Corporate Jet Investor releasing details that the NBA is to lease the specially VIP configured A321neos. The planes are owned by SMBC Aviation Capital, and leased directly to the league, not Delta. The US DOT approved the revised agreement, with permission to have 14 aircraft with the special configuration.

A video depicting the aircraft’s interior was posted by future_pilot_gabriel on Instagram earlier this week but was later deleted. Simple Flying reached out to Delta for comment.

A Timely Replacement For The Aging Boeing 757-200

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As a replacement for the 11 757-200 aircraft which are part of Delta’s 75C sub fleet, these come at a time when the contract for the leased Aviation Capital aircraft is set to expire this coming September. It is expected that the first few A321neos will be ready for the 2026 and 2027 NBA season.

Onboard, the planes are designed with lie-flat beds, humidifiers, customizable lighting, and a low cabin altitude, making them comfortable for some of the world’s best basketball players; part of the brief is to accommodate the height of players who can be taller than six feet (1.83 m). There is also an additional 1,826 cubic foot (51.7 cubic meter) hold which caters for team equipment.

It is not uncommon for elite sports teams to fly on VIP aircraft due to logistical travel challenges and the need to carry a large amount of equipment and travel at times that are not suitable for regular scheduled commercial air service. Additionally, due to the size of some players, they need to be kept comfortable, which is where a specially configured VIP layout comes into play.

It can also be common for flights to operate in the early hours of the evening after games, to ensure the teams are back to home base to continue training, or to travel to their next destination so they have time to acclimatize to time differences.

Delivery Flight To Minneapolis On July 28

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Data from FlightAware shows the delivery flight for the first VIP configured aircraft occurred on July 28, when the plane completed its interior configuration with Comlux in Indianapolis. The flight operated as DL9936 departing from Indianapolis at 2:07 PM for the two-hour and 48-minute flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The plane touched down at 3:55 PM local time and has remained on the ground since.

The plane bears registration N701DH, and was delivered from Hamburg to Indianapolis via Keflavik International Airport (KEF) on March 23. It was grounded at Indianapolis while its onboard configuration was completed.

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This is an exciting chapter for both the NBA and Delta, as the first of 14 new A321neo arrives to gradually replace the 757, which has loyally served as the VIP aircraft for the NBA and other ad-hoc charters. These new aircraft will provide improved onboard conditions for the NBA players and their support teams as they continue to travel across the country.