Have you ever considered the aircraft type you’ll be flying on when selecting an airline? Choosing between a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A350 for long-haul flights could significantly impact your travel experience. On the other hand, casual domestic travelers aren’t likely to notice whether they’re flying on an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737. Nevertheless, airlines meticulously plan and strategize their fleet composition. For instance, Southwest Airlines operates various versions of the Boeing 737, allowing the airline to minimize training and maintenance expenses.
Similarly, Frontier Airlines has operated Airbus A320s and A319s exclusively, streamlining their operations and reducing costs. However, Delta Air Lines stands out among US carriers with a diverse Boeing and Airbus aircraft fleet. The backstory behind Delta’s mixed fleet is intriguing, and the airline’s plans suggest that the disparity between its narrowbody and widebody fleets may continue to grow.
Delta’s Fleet
Delta Air Lines’ website shows all of its aircraft types, including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Embraer.
Delta typically operates the A321 aircraft when flying from our home airport in Orlando. During our travels to New York, Minnesota, and Los Angeles, we have experienced various versions of this plane, including Delta’s first A321neo, although it was a year after it entered into service. However, we’re the exception. Passengers going through one of Delta’s hub cities are likely to fly on one of the airline’s 737s, which are still the fleet’s workhorse.
Occasionally we’ll have the option to fly on a 767 to Atlanta, which is a chance to check out the last Boeing widebodies that Delta flies. While the planes have received an interior refresh, the average age of a Delta 767 is 26.6 years, according to Airfleets.net. In fact, Delta and United are the only airlines worldwide still flying a large number of 767s.
In fact, the majority of Delta’s widebody fleet is provided by Airbus. Delta operates more A330 and A350 widebody planes than their fleet of Boeing 767s. That’s not to mention Delta’s order for twenty A350-1000 aircraft, which will start being delivered in 2026.
Check out this video to learn why Delta operates almost every Airbus plane. It explains the many reasons this happened, starting with the merger with Northwest.
Delta Air Lines has been steadily transitioning towards Airbus aircraft, with the majority of its widebody fleet now comprised of Airbus planes. The airline’s diversification from Boeing to Airbus is evident in its strategic plans, including the order for twenty A350-1000 aircraft and the expansion of its A220 fleet. This signifies a clear shift towards Airbus, a move that is anticipated to become even more prominent in the coming years.
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Cover photo: Delta News Hub
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
2 comments
Love flying Delta, especially a Delta Airbus, for both safety, features and comfort.
Choosing a 787 or A350 isn’t really very likely to impact your travel experience much. The interior that the particular airline in question installs will vastly outweigh any differences that are actually inherent to the airframe type. The only difference between a 787 and an A350 that a passenger is likely to notice are the larger electrochromic windows on the 787. If you’re in economy, the seats may be a bit wider on the A350. Up front, there’s unlikely to be any difference.