Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) has finally confirmed speculations that it had agreed to a lease agreement with Boeing and competitor Southwest Airlines (WN, Dallas Love Field) to lease the 88 B717-200s Southwest has inherited from the acquisition of AirTran Airways (Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson). The aircraft will gradually be added to the Delta fleet from 2013 provided it can get final approval from the members of the Delta Air Line Pilots Association which have veto power on this fleet decision. Delta says it mainly will use the new aircraft to replace its remaining 19 DC-9-50s as well as 50 seat regional jets operated by its subsidiaries and partners.