Delta To Purchase 20 Airbus a350-1000 Aircraft With Option for 20 More.

Delta Air Lines has agreed to purchase 20 Airbus a350-1000 widebody aircraft with an option for an additional 20 planes, marking it as the potential first U.S. carrier to operate this model. Deliveries are set to commence in 2026. The a350-1000, provides extended range and premium cabin space, accommodates 350 to 410 passengers. Despite a 2022 order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets, Delta has been predominantly an Airbus customer, with a fleet that includes 65 Airbus a330's and 28 a350-900's, plus commitments for 16 more of each. These widebody aircraft are expected to enhance Delta's Asia-Pacific network, a region recovering more slowly than the U.S. and Europe post-pandemic. Delta has also announced a service agreement with Rolls-Royce for a350-1000's Trent XWB-97 engines. United Airlines is the only other U.S. carrier with a350 orders, specifically 45 a350-900's. Notably, British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Cathay Pacific Airways are among the current A350-1000 operators globally.