The primary reason for this follow-on order, if it occurs, is because Airbus is willing to help DL get rid of many of the CRJ 50s which DL must dispose of within the next couple years if it wants to add more large RJs, which it clearly wants to do. Pinnacles BK also is undoubtedly part of the puzzle since DL is providing DIP financing to them.
Given that Airbus has not placed an aircraft directly with DL since the A310s in the years after the Pan Am acquisition - and they were dumped after only a few years, there is reason to believe that Airbus is willing to do things other manufacturers might not do, including whoever wins the order for the large RJs.
Since the UA pilot contract which will be sent out to members for a vote includes similar language to acquire large RJs and reduce small RJs and AA wants to do the same thing, there will be a rush by US airlines to get rid of small RJs and order larger RJs. Manufacturers and the market will only absorb so many small RJs before they are just parked as losses which is why DL is undoubtedly trying to get the best deals by moving first.
The 321 deal, and it is a rumor, makes sense only because DL has 320 series aircraft in the fleet, some of which have alot of life left in them.
