Airbus has finished Delta’s first A350-900, and it’s almost ready to begin taking over routes from the airline’s soon-to-retire 747-400s. Delta will be the U.S. launch customer for the A350.
The A350s, of which 25 are on order, and a fleet of 25 A330s, also on order, will shift Delta’s long-distance international routes, both Atlantic and Pacific, to newer fuel-efficient planes, and will also cement Delta’s status as an Airbus shop for wide-body jets. The A330s and a number of additional A320s will complete the phase-out of Delta’s older 757 and 767 extended range planes.
Delta is still a major narrow-body customer for Boeing, with a significant order for 737s still being delivered, but it has also ordered 50 Bombardier CS100s, with an option for 50 more, and the right to convert orders to the company’s larger CS300 as needed.
