© Reuters. A Delta Airlines MD-88 (foreground) with Airbus A320 (background) at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, December 9, 2011. REUTERS/Tami Chappell/File Photo
By Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) -Delta Air Lines on Friday unveiled an order for up to 40 new Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft, with deliveries of the first 20 aircraft scheduled to begin in 2026.
The order, which Reuters reported this week was imminent, is likely to make Delta the first U.S. airline to operate the model. Delta said it had options for 20 more planes.
According to the European aircraft manufacturer, the long-range A350-1000 can comfortably seat between 350 and 410 passengers and has plenty of premium cabin space.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the planes will replace the Boeing (NYSE:) 767.
“These aircraft complement our fleet strategy and will offer a world-class experience for international travelers with more premium seats, higher caliber and excellent customer amenities,” he said on the company's earnings conference call.
Delta has positioned itself as a premium airline and seeks to attract travelers willing to pay for more than just a seat. Its revenue from premium cabins has surpassed that from low-cost seats since the pandemic.
While the Atlanta-based airline placed an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 aircraft in 2022, it has primarily been an Airbus customer.
At the end of September, the company had 65 Airbus A330s and 28 wide-body A350-900s, with purchase commitments for another 16 each.
The twin-aisle planes are expected to help the company grow its network in the Asia-Pacific region, which has lagged behind the United States and Europe in recovering global travel demand after the pandemic.
Delta also announced a service agreement with Rolls-Royce (OTC:) to service the Trent XWB-97 engines that power the A350-1000 aircraft.
United Airlines is the only other US airline to have ordered the A350 so far, in its case 45 of the smaller A350-900s. However, none have been delivered yet.
Current A350-1000 operators globally include British Airways, Qatar Airways and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways (OTC:).
On Thursday, Airbus reported record annual aircraft orders and confirmed an 11% increase in deliveries in 2023, maintaining the top manufacturing spot against rival Boeing for the fifth year.
