Delta Air Lines to Add 31 New Airbus Widebody Jets to its Fleet

Delta Air Lines announced this week that it will add 31 new Airbus widebody jets to its fleet—21 from a new order, and 10 from the exercise of options on a previous order.

The order is split between 16 Airbus A330-900s (A330neo) and 15 Airbus A350-900s. While the A330neo is an updated, more efficient version of the classic A330, the A350-900 is a long-haul workhorse that gives Delta the legs to better compete in markets like Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific, where it hasn’t traditionally been the most dominant carrier.

While the larger A350-1000s are expected to arrive as early as 2027, Delta anticipates these 31 new A330neos and A350-900s will begin hitting the tarmac in 2029.

“As we grow our international footprint and prepare our fleet to serve expanded long-haul markets, these aircraft will enhance our capabilities and elevate our premium offerings,” Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said.

All of these planes, along with all of Delta’s incoming widebody jets over the next few years, will feature larger premium cabins, including Delta One Suites, Delta Premium Select, and Delta Comfort+. This continues a clear theme for Delta, which is leaning more and more heavily into its premium experiences to drive growth.