Delta Air Lines will take deliver of another 20 A350s beginning in 2026. The carrier announced the order, including another 20 options, for the A350-1000, the largest model in the family. The move helps the carrier to retire its 767 fleet (albeit not on a 1-to-1 arrangement). And, most notably, is exactly what was expected from the carrier for several years now.
As part of this shift the company expects the 767-300s will be retired over the next 3-5 years. The 764s will survive a bit longer – perhaps to the end of the decade – but are expected to solely serve domestic markets by 2028.
The right size
While Delta executive described the A350-1000 acquisition as facilitating the 767 retirement, it is not a direct replacement solution. There is no direct replacement option for the 767s so airlines must make a choice in how to approach that situation. Most, including Delta, are upsizing their average aircraft size.
The A350-1000 also delivers more room for premium seating on board, giving Delta some flexibility for its operations in the future.
The larger capacity will help Delta move passengers though partner hubs, particularly in Asia, where onward connections depend on traffic volume more than service frequency. While Delta will continue to overfly hubs for some higher-traffic routes (i.e. reasonable to assume nonstops to China are back by the end of the decade) there will still be many markets for which connections over Seoul or Paris make more sense. Especially as long-haul secondary or tertiary markets repeatedly fail to mature.
The right time
Beyond being the right sized planes – and the fleet commonality for pilots and maintenance – the very obvious tip in favor of Airbus for this order is the confidence both parties can have that the planes will be delivered as expected.
While the 787-10 could get close in capacity to the A350-1000 (and should be somewhat reliable for delivery) the real comparable option would be the 777X. Boeing expressed confidence in recent months that it was (finally) on a steady path to certification for that type. But the FAA is processing certification on its own schedule. And the more recent MAX 9 quality issues once again call into question the manufacturer’s ability to push things across the finish line.
Finally, it is only an order for 20 more frames. Delta has plenty of time to diversify its fleet later if circumstances change. No doubt Boeing will be keen to cut a deal if it can get back in to Delta’s widebody plans.
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