Delta orders A330neo and A350neo days after announcing first Boeing 787 purchase

Delta Air Lines has placed a firm order for 31 additional Airbus widebody aircraft, days after announcing its first-ever purchase of the Boeing 787, a model the airline had not previously operated. The latest order covers aircraft types that are already part of Delta’s long-haul fleet, the A330neo and the A350neo.

The agreement includes 16 A330-900s and 15 A350-900s, combining new firm orders with the exercise of existing options. Delta also secured 20 additional widebody options for future deliveries. Once the aircraft are delivered, the airline’s widebody fleet will total 55 A330neos and 79 A350s, including the A350-1000 variant.

The Airbus order follows Delta’s announcement earlier this month of its first purchase of the Boeing 787, a widebody aircraft already operated by U.S. rivals American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines. In contrast, the A330neo and A350neo deal expands aircraft families that Delta already operates in significant numbers across its international network.

Delta currently operates more than 500 Airbus aircraft across all product families, from the A220 to the A350. Its existing Airbus backlog stands at around 200 aircraft and includes the A350-1000, with initial deliveries expected from 2027.

The A330-900 aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, while the A350-900 will use the Trent XWB-84 EP. Delta has also signed long-term engine maintenance agreements with Rolls-Royce covering both engine types.

According to the airline, the additional widebody aircraft will be allocated to medium- and long-haul international routes and will be delivered with larger premium cabin layouts. Following the Airbus and Boeing announcements, Delta has 85 widebody aircraft and 232 narrowbody aircraft on order for delivery in the coming years.

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