Airlines Delta Air Lines orders 20 A350-1000

To meet future demand of air travel on long-haul routes, Delta Air Lines has – as first American airline – chosen the Airbus A350-1000. The carrier signed a firm purchase agreement with the European manufacturer for a total of 20 new aircraft. It will be a new aircraft type in Delta’s fleet.

In the past years, Delta has welcomed two state-of-the-art Airbus widebody types to its fleet. As of January 2024, the carrier operated with 27 A330-900s and with 27 of the smaller A350 variant, the A350-900.

This latest commitment comes days after Eva Air announced that it will purchase nearly 20 A350-1000s as well. The larger variant of the A350 is slowly becoming a popular choice for airlines over the Boeing 777-300.

Regarding the order, Christian Scherer, Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aircraft business, Airbus, commented: “We are thankful for Delta’s continued confidence in Airbus’ solutions to meet its fleet needs […] Delta was the first U.S. airline to operate the A350-900, and is doing so with great success. Delta now welcomes the A350-1000, which will open even more opportunities for the airline and its customers. We are proud that our aircraft serve the entirety of Delta’s impressive global network as this stellar airline takes fleet efficiency to the next level.”

“The A350-1000 will be the largest, most capable aircraft in Delta’s fleet and is an important step forward for our international expansion,” added Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive officer. “The aircraft complements our fleet and offers an elevated customer experience, with more premium seats and best-in-class amenities, as well as expanded cargo capabilities.”

Delta Air Lines currently operates with more than 450 Airbus aircraft with currently 200 additional aircraft on order. Delta flies the Airbus A220, A319, A320, A321, A330 and A350.

The A350-1000 has currently more than 1200 orders. 58 customers from all over the world has signed purchase agreements with Airbus.