Catenaa, Monday, February 02, 2026-Delta Air Lines announced plans to purchase 31 Airbus widebody jets as part of a long-term strategy to modernize its international fleet and expand premium travel offerings. The order includes 16 A330-900s and 15 A350-900s, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2029.
The deal combines new orders with the conversion of 10 previously held options into firm purchases and adds options for 20 additional aircraft.
Delta said the jets will operate on medium- and long-haul routes, including Taipei, Melbourne, Hong Kong, and Riyadh, and will feature increased premium seating to meet growing demand for high-revenue cabins.
The airline is also adding 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners to its long-haul operations, focusing on transatlantic and South American services.
Delta plans to gradually retire older Boeing 767s and early-generation A330s while maintaining a more fuel-efficient fleet to reduce operating costs and environmental impact.
With the new orders, Delta’s A330-900 fleet will expand to 55 aircraft, and its A350 fleet will grow to 79 planes, including 20 larger A350-1000s arriving starting in early 2027.
CEO Ed Bastian said nearly all future seat growth will be in premium cabins, reflecting a strategic shift to higher-margin services and corporate traveler demand.
The aircraft modernization comes amid a broader industry push by U.S. carriers to upgrade long-haul fleets while responding to resilient demand for premium international travel and reducing fuel burn across operations.
