Quantcast

Delta Air Lines set to become sole US operator of Airbus A350-1000

Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
FAA EMAS: Proven Safety Wins Since 1996
Air Canada flight attendants try to build on US gains on unpaid work
Cathay Pacific warns of declining fares and cargo uncertainty, shares fall
Clear intentions, cloudy path: aviation's ongoing ESG challenge
Turkish Airlines is preparing binding offer for Spain's Air Europa, executive says
Air Canada flight attendants approve strike mandate
US criticizes use of AI to personalize airline ticket prices, would investigate
Ethiopian Airlines' annual revenue rises as it draws more passengers, adds routes
Major strike action to hit 12 Spanish airports that have Ryanair flights
JetBlue, United partnership gets go-ahead from U.S. Transportation Department
United-JetBlue partnership gets US DOT approval
Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Heathrow Chief Defends £50–60 billion Third Runway Amid Rising Costs Debate
New UK airline with cheap US fares is ‘parked’ after just TWO flights – with people fearing it’s been scrapped for good
US carriers shamed in surprising new list of the world’s ‘cleanest’ airlines
Air Force Pilot Wasn't Alerted to Collision Course with Passenger Jet Before Scary Near Miss, Says Official
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Summer flight delays to be 'worst ever' this year - what to do if affected
Delta Air Lines set to become sole US operator of Airbus A350-1000
Policy
Webp ed
Ed Bastian, Chief Executive Officer | Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines is preparing to become the only U.S. airline to operate the Airbus A350-1000, with its first deliveries expected in 2026. The airline placed an order for 20 of these aircraft in early 2024, with options for 20 more. This move comes as Delta continues to expand its Airbus widebody fleet, following a long-standing preference for Airbus over Boeing in recent years.

Delta's decision to focus on Airbus was influenced by several factors, including concerns about Boeing's engineering and reliability, particularly after issues with the Boeing 787 and a strained relationship stemming from an anti-dumping complaint related to Delta's purchase of the Airbus A220. As a result, Delta canceled its inherited order for Boeing 787-8s in 2016 and has since concentrated on acquiring Airbus models such as the A350-900 and A330neo.

The Airbus A350-1000 is currently the largest commercial passenger aircraft in serial production, with a maximum seating capacity of up to 480 passengers. It entered service in 2018 and features an advertised range of up to 9,000 nautical miles. According to Airbus, the A350-1000 offers a fuel burn per seat that is 25% lower than that of the Boeing 777-300ER when configured similarly.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Delta’s order for the A350-1000 is part of its broader strategy to refresh and streamline its fleet while improving fuel efficiency. The airline expects these new aircraft to be over 20% more fuel efficient than the retiring Boeing 767-300ERs. The larger capacity will allow Delta to serve slot-limited airports like London-Heathrow more effectively and open or resume ultra-long-haul routes such as Atlanta or New York-JFK to India—routes beyond the range of its current widebody fleet.

United Airlines also has an outstanding order for Airbus A350-900s but does not expect delivery until at least 2030. United originally ordered both -900 and -1000 variants but shifted plans multiple times due to changing needs and delivery schedules, ultimately settling on delayed -900 deliveries.

American Airlines previously inherited an order for A350s through its merger with US Airways but canceled it in favor of fleet simplification focused on Boeing models. Hawaiian Airlines initially ordered the smaller A350-800 variant before converting those orders first to A330neos and later switching entirely to Boeing 787-9s.

With no other U.S.-based carriers set to take delivery of the A350-1000 or showing interest in ordering competing large aircraft like the upcoming Boeing 777X, Delta will be unique among American airlines operating this model. Globally, leading operators include Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines.

When introduced into service by Delta, the A350-1000 will become not only its largest and longest-range aircraft but also one of the largest passenger jets operated by any U.S.-based carrier since United took delivery of its last Boeing 777-300ER in 2020.

"Delta stated that this was part of its efforts to refresh and streamline its fleet, while also improving fuel efficiency."

"Delta claims the new A350-1000s will be over 20% more fuel efficient than the retiring Boeing 767-300ERs."

"With a maximum seating capacity of up to 480 passengers, the A350-1000 is currently (but briefly) the largest commercial passenger aircraft in serial production."

###

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships, with all five applicants receiving awards this year.

Oct 23, 2025

Dnata, a global provider of air and travel services, has entered into a joint venture with Azerbaijan’s Silk Way Group to launch ground handling and cargo operations at Alat International Airport, located in the Alat Free Economic Zone in Baku.

Oct 22, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced the release of version 7.5 of its mobile app, introducing new features aimed at making travel planning and management easier for customers during the holiday season.

Oct 22, 2025

The Fair Work Commission has ruled that a former employee of dnata Airport Services was unfairly dismissed and awarded $36,468.39 in compensation.

Oct 22, 2025

The 13th Annual Breast Care International Walk for the Cure took place in Kumasi, Ghana, drawing around 30,000 participants, including survivors, healthcare professionals, students, traditional leaders, and advocates.

Oct 22, 2025

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has announced the closure of Terminal 5 to allow for a significant redevelopment.

Oct 22, 2025