Delta Orders 20 Airbus A350-1000s to Modernize Long-Haul Fleet

Delta Air Lines has placed a landmark order for 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to update its long-haul fleet, replace aging Boeing 767s, enhance passenger comfort, cut costs and improve fuel efficiency. The A350-1000 will join Delta’s existing Airbus A350-900s and A330s, expanding the carrier’s premium widebody operations on high-demand international routes.

By pivoting to a widebody fleet that is primarily Airbus, Delta is reducing training and maintenance costs while improving operational flexibility. Thanks to advanced aerodynamics, carbon-fiber composites and Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, the A350-1000 delivers significant fuel-burn and emissions reductions compared with the four-engine and older twinjet types it will replace.

Delta’s expanded payload and range will unlock new long-haul routes, including destinations in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. The A350-1000 also offers a more spacious cabin with larger bins, higher ceilings, ambient lighting and improved air quality designed to reduce jet lag — all of which will boost passenger satisfaction on flights lasting 10 hours or more.

With the goal of increasing fuel efficiency and enhancing the in-flight experience, Delta ordered 20 new A350-1000s in 2024. By the end of the decade, the airline plans to field more than 60 A350s, including 28 A350-900s and 36 A350-1000s, making the A350-1000 its largest and most powerful aircraft. The new jets will offer 15% more premium seats than the retiring aircraft and feature Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select and Main Cabin seating, along with Delta Studio’s 1,000-plus hours of entertainment, fast Wi-Fi and upgraded dining.

“Delta now welcomes the A350-1000, which will open even more opportunities for the airline and its customers,” said Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. “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’s lightweight carbon-fiber structure makes up more than two-thirds of the airframe — including fuselage skins, spars, stringers and the 32-meter one-piece wing upper cover — reducing corrosion and fatigue while extending inspection intervals. Its high-aspect-ratio wing with sharklets and droop-nose devices optimizes airflow at low speeds, helping the aircraft use about 25% less fuel than the four-engine types it replaces.

Delta’s decision to choose the A350-1000 over Boeing’s delayed 777X underscores its strategy to increase fleet commonality with Airbus. The 777X, originally scheduled to enter service in 2020, has slipped to 2026 or later due to GE9X engine issues, FAA certification hurdles and other technical delays. By contrast, the A350-1000 gives Delta a clear path to modernize its fleet on schedule, while benefiting from training, maintenance and operational synergies across its Airbus types.

The A350-1000 will directly replace Delta’s 767-300ERs under a “cascading upgauge” plan. Flights now operated by 767-300ERs will shift to 767-400ERs or A330-200s, then to A330-300/900neos, and ultimately to A350-900s, with the highest-demand services moving up to the A350-1000. The aircraft’s flexibility allows Delta to deploy it on ultra-long-haul routes or switch to medium-haul missions if demand softens.

The Airbus A350-1000 is the largest member of the A350 family, measuring just under 74 meters (243 feet) in length and seating about 369 passengers in a typical two-class layout with a range of 9,000 nautical miles (17,000 km/10,000 mi). Featuring a nine-abreast cabin, it was designed to replace the A340-600 and compete directly with Boeing’s 777-300ER and 777-8. Airbus estimates a 366-seat A350-1000 has a 35-tonne (77,000 lb) lighter operating empty weight than a 398-seat 777-9, resulting in 15% lower trip costs, 7% lower seat costs and about 400 nautical miles (740 km/460 mi) greater range. Compared with a 360-seat 777-300ER, Airbus claims the A350-1000 delivers a 25% fuel-burn-per-seat advantage. The stretched fuselage accommodates 40 more passengers and 40% more premium space, and while a 10-abreast configuration can match the 777-9’s seating density, it comes with reduced comfort.

Tariffs briefly disrupted Delta’s fleet strategy during President Trump’s earlier administration, delaying deliveries of Airbus aircraft from Europe and Canada. Those levies could have added as much as 20% to the cost of new jets. However, U.S. courts have since ruled most of Trump’s tariffs illegal, and reciprocal European tariffs on Boeing aircraft were narrowly avoided. The political agreement to return to zero tariffs for civil aircraft has restored stability, benefiting both Airbus and Delta as the carrier prepares to take delivery of its new flagship A350-1000s.

Currently, Delta operates 36 A350-900s with 15 more on order, alongside commitments for 20 A350-1000s and options for 20 additional frames. The airline also has 131 Airbus A220-300s on order for domestic and short-haul international routes. With nearly 300 narrowbodies and 50 widebodies on order, Delta is laying the foundation for a more efficient, passenger-friendly and environmentally responsible fleet for the next decade.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com, simpleflying.com