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Delta Air Lines has placed an order for the Airbus A350-1000 in order to update its fleet, replace outdated aircraft such as the Boeing 767, increase passenger satisfaction, reduce expenses, and improve fuel efficiency. For long-haul flights, the A350-1000 is a perfect addition to Delta’s current fleet of Airbus A350-900s and A330s. By switching to a widebody fleet that is primarily Airbus, Delta has reduced costs and improved operational flexibility by streamlining pilot training and maintenance.
Because of its advanced aerodynamics and lightweight materials, the A350-1000 offers significant fuel efficiency advantages, lowering emissions and fuel burn while also lowering operating costs. New long-haul international routes, including those to Australia, Asia, and the Middle East, will be made possible by Delta’s expanded payload and range. Additionally, the A350-1000 has better seats and more comfortable travel for passengers.
Dynamic Duo: Delta & Airbus
With the goal of increasing fuel efficiency and improving the in-flight experience, Delta expanded its fleet by ordering 20 new Airbus A350-1000 widebodies in 2024. By the end of the decade, the carrier plans to have over 60 A350s in its fleet. The largest and most powerful aircraft in Delta’s fleet, the A350-1000 will provide first-rate seats, top-notch amenities, and more cargo capacity. Christian Scherer, Airbus’s Chief Executive Officer of the Commercial Aircraft division, said about the deal that:
“We are thankful for Delta’s continued confidence in Airbus’ solutions to meet its fleet needs 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 aircraft will primarily be used at international hubs and in long-haul markets to support Delta’s global expansion. Along with 15% more premium seats than the retiring aircraft, the new aircraft will feature premium amenities, with cabins including Main Cabin, Delta One Suites, and Delta Premium Select. Delta Studio also offers over 1,000 hours of complimentary inflight entertainment, fast WiFi, and upscale food and drink selections.
Flyers will enjoy the A350-1000’s spacious and quiet cabin, high ceilings, expansive bin space, and customizable ambient lighting designed to reduce fatigue and jet lag on long flights. With its commitments to date, Delta has almost 300 narrowbody and 50 widebody aircraft on order.
The New Delta Air Lines Long-Haul Aircraft Coming In 2026
A look at what these planes will bring to Delta, where they could fly, how they fit into Delta’s network, and what they may look like on the inside.
By The Numbers: The A350-1000
The Airbus A350-1000 stands out for the passenger-focused Airspace interior, its low airframe weight, and outstanding range. Its dimensions allow it to easily fit seamlessly with the gates and airport slots already made for older twinjets. Carbon-fire-reinforced composites make up over two-thirds of its structure, including fuselage skins, spars, stringers, and even the wing’s 32-meter single-piece upper cover. The airframe is also lighter than virtually all its peers, and free of corrosion.
It also has fatigue schedules that are significantly slower than those of an aluminum-alloy competitor. Inspection hours are reduced and less frequent, so airlines are able to fly longer blocks between thorough checks. A high-aspect-ratio wing with smoothly curved sharklets and droop-nose devices to maximize airflow at low speed is supported by that lightweight framework. The design enables the A350-1000 to fly long-haul routes while using about a quarter less fuel than the four-engine types it is replacing.
|
Metric |
A350-1000 Specifications |
|---|---|
|
Maximum Capacity |
480 seats |
|
Typical 3-class configuration |
375-400 seats |
|
Range |
9,000 nautical miles (16,700 kilometers) |
|
Cruise Mach |
0.85 |
|
Overall length |
242 feet (73.78 meters) |
|
Wing span (geometric) |
212 feet and five inches (64.75 meters) |
|
Height |
56 feet and four inches (17.08 meters) |
|
Max fuel capacity |
168,300 liters |
|
Max take-off weight |
322.00 tons |
The A350-1000 is also cost-effective enough to switch between medium and long-distance routes during traffic slumps, if needed. The unrivaled combination of efficiency, flexibility, and comfort is exactly why the A350-1000 has become the preferred flagship for many international airlines in a time when regulators, investors, and passengers are all closely monitoring every kilogram of CO2 per seat.
Why Don’t Any US Carriers Fly The Airbus A350 Apart From Delta Air Lines?
One of its major rivals could start flying the Airbus widebody next decade.
Why Didn’t Delta Order The 777X?
Delta’s strategy of increasing fleet commonality with Airbus and ongoing delivery delays with Boeing are some of the reasons why it selected the Airbus A350-1000 over the Boeing 777X. With the A350-1000, Delta was able to increase its long-haul efficiency and modernize its fleet on a schedule, while the 777X remains in the certification cycle. The 777X’s scheduled 2020 launch has been postponed to 2027, with problems including issues with the GE9X engines, obstacles with the FAA, and other technical difficulties.
Meanwhile, the increasing commonality of Delta’s Airbus fleet has streamlined operations, decreased crew training expenses and time, and increased cost and maintenance effectiveness. Many carriers believe that the A350-1000 is a better fit for their hub-and-spoke models than the larger Boeing 777X, as it performs better on ultra-long-haul flights and uses far less fuel than the older Boeing 777-200LRs and 767s that Delta retired. The ‘big three’ US airlines have all shown little interest in the Boeing 777X, as it is too big.
The A350-1000 will replace the 767-300ER in Delta’s long-haul fleet, in a move that, according to Cranky Flier, is all about ‘cascading upgauging.’ The move also makes it clear that the airline is not waiting for the 777X to finally be certified after years of delays. The massive Boeing will be the largest twinjet ever made once it finally enters production, but that is still not expected until 2027. After that, it would take even longer for Delta to actually get these planes, as those that have already ordered the jet would be first in line.
Why Don’t Any US Airlines Operate The Airbus A350-1000?
The absence will not last much longer.
Tariffs In The Way Of Delta’s Airbus Fleet
Delta paused new Airbus aircraft deliveries from Europe and Canada while President Trump’s tariffs were in effect. This decision impacted the 20 Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft originally scheduled for delivery from Toulouse, France, in 2026. Delta’s current fleet upgrade strategy has been significantly disrupted by uncertain tariffs that could increase aircraft costs by as much as 20%.
Currently, Delta operates 40 Airbus A350-900 aircraft with 19 more on order, according to ch-aviation. Those are alongside the 20 larger A350-1000s and options for 20 additional frames. In any case, the airline was very clear that it won’t be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries it takes.
In response to the uncertain economics, Delta reduced planned network growth and remained in flux with regard to capacity, citing decreased spending on recreational travel as a key factor. The tariffs also impact Delta’s order for the Airbus A220-300, an aircraft that is intended for domestic and short-haul international routes.
Why In The World Does Delta Air Lines Fly The Airbus A350 And Not The Boeing 787?
Delta chose the A350 over the Boeing 787 as it had better confidence in Airbus, a strained relationship with Boeing, and more.
Trump’s Trade Policy Is Hurting Delta
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in 2025 has had significant negative impacts on the global aerospace industry due to protectionist trade policies. Per ch-aviation, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in May 2025 that Europe should impose tariffs on imported Boeing aircraft and parts if the US persisted with its 10% tariff on new Airbus aircraft. Reciprocal tariffs were fortunately avoided, but not until the EU and Airbus took a hard stance against the Trump administration. Reuters later quoted Faury as saying that:
“We are producing aircraft in line with our plans but deliveries are backloaded as we face persistent engine supply issues on the A320 programme. The operating environment is complex and fast-changing. On tariffs, the recent political agreement between the EU and the US to revert to a zero-tariff approach for civil aircraft is a welcome development for our industry. Our 2025 guidance, which continues to exclude the impact of tariffs, remains unchanged.”
US federal courts eventually ruled that most of Trump’s tariffs were illegal. The president launched an appeal to the higher court in a bid to reverse the decision and save his trade policies. According to CNBC, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that Trump overstepped his authority with steep duties on almost every country in the world.
That is good news for Airbus and Delta, meaning that even if Trump were to change his mind in his mercurial style, he would not have the power to implement new tariffs. Delta will benefit from stability and a return to the free, open, and untaxed trade of global aerospace products when it finally takes delivery of its new flagship A350-1000s.
