Delta Air Lines plans new Airbus A350 base at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Establishing an A350 pilot base in Seattle would reduce hotel costs and eliminate deadheading needs while simplifying operations. This decision reflects Delta's commitment to its A350 operations in Seattle despite logistical challenges that have delayed opening until later this year or early next year.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to shift all transpacific operations to the A350-900. For Seattle specifically, this likely means transitioning the Shanghai route from the A330neo. Delta has seven remaining orders for the A350-900 and 20 for the larger A350-1000 model.

The rivalry between Delta and Alaska Airlines at Tacoma Airport is notable as both airlines vie for market share. While Alaska Airlines has traditionally focused on short-haul flights with its 737s, it is expanding its reach with routes like Tokyo-Narita and soon-to-be-launched flights to Seoul using Hawaiian-branded A330-200s. Additionally, Alaska recently announced a four-times weekly route to Rome using Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

Delta's response involves enhancing premium capacity through either its "359" or "35H" subfleets compared to the A330-900neo. The new pilot base could also enable new routes operated by either the A350 or displaced A330-900neos.

Delta first designated Sea-Tac as a hub airport in 2014 following its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008 which included transpacific routes from Seattle and a hub in Tokyo-Narita that was later closed in favor of nonstop flights from Seattle using Boeing 767s or older Airbus models before shifting predominantly towards newer aircraft like the A330-900neo.

Post-pandemic trends show increased leisure travel demand for premium cabins alongside recovering business travel levels necessitating expanded premium offerings by full-service carriers like Delta.