From Investing.com:

Delta Air Lines has ordered up to 40 new Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft, with first deliveries scheduled for 2026. The long-range A350-1000 can accommodate 350 to 410 passengers and has a large space for premium cabins. These planes will replace Boeing 767s and offer a world-class customer experience, according to Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

The order is likely to make Delta the first U.S. carrier to operate the model, with options for a further 20 planes. The company has primarily been an Airbus customer and has 65 Airbus A330 and 28 A350-900 widebodies. The new jets are expected to help the company grow its network in the Asia-Pacific region, which has lagged behind in global travel demand recovery after the pandemic.

Delta’s revenue from premium cabins has been outpacing those from low-cost seats since the pandemic. The company also announced a service agreement with Rolls-Royce to service Trent XWB-97 engines that power A350-1000 jets. Current A350-1000 operators globally include British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airways.

Airbus reported record annual jet orders and confirmed an 11% rise in 2023 deliveries, maintaining the top manufacturing spot against rival Boeing for a fifth year. United Airlines is the only other U.S. carrier to have ordered the A350 so far, in its case 45 of the smaller A350-900s. However, none have yet been delivered.



Read more: Delta orders up to 40 Airbus A350-1000 widebody planes By Reuters