By Rajesh Kumar Singh
CHICAGO (Reuters) -Delta Air Lines on Friday unveiled an order for up to 40 new Airbus A350-1000 widebody aircraft, with deliveries of the first 20 jets are scheduled to begin in 2026.
The order, which Reuters this week reported was imminent, is likely to make Delta the first U.S. carrier to operate the model. Delta said it had options for a further 20 planes.
The long-range A350-1000 can comfortably accommodate 350 to 410 passengers and has a large amount of space for premium cabins, according to the European planemaker.
Delta's CEO Ed Bastian said the planes will replace Boeing (NYSE:BA) 767s.
"These planes complement our fleet strategy and will offer a world-class customer experience for international travelers with more premium seats, higher gauge and great customer amenities," he said on the company's earnings call.
Delta has positioned itself as a premium airline and seeks to attract travelers willing to pay for something other than just a seat. Its revenue from premium cabins has been outpacing those from low-cost seats since the pandemic.
While the Atlanta-based carrier placed an order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets in 2022, it has primarily been an Airbus customer.
At the end of September, the company had 65 Airbus A330 and 28 A350-900 widebodies, with commitments to purchase another 16 each.
The twin-aisle jets are expected to help the company to grow its network in the Asia-Pacific region, which has lagged behind the U.S. and Europe in a global travel demand recovery after the pandemic.
Delta also announced a service agreement with Rolls-Royce (OTC:RYCEY) to service Trent XWB-97 engines that power A350-1000 jets.
United Airlines is the only other U.S. carrier to have ordered the A350 so far, in its case 45 of the smaller A350-900s. However, none have yet been delivered.
Current A350-1000 operators globally include British Airways, Qatar Airways and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways (OTC:CPCAY).
On Thursday, Airbus reported record annual jet orders and confirmed an 11% rise in 2023 deliveries, maintaining the top manufacturing spot against rival Boeing for a fifth year.