Delta is planning for a premium-heavy Airbus A350-1000 widebody, with the first plane being delivered next year or (more likely) delayed into 2027, according to aviation watchdog JonNYC.
He says to expect “20 aircraft being delivered in a 28-month time frame.” The most exciting thing is that these planes will feature a new Delta One Suite in business class, as well as new economy seats.
this is what that original delivery schedule looked like:
2026
3Q: 12026
4Q: 32027:
1Q: 1
2Q: 32028
1Q: 3
2Q: 5
3Q: 2
4Q: 2— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) July 2, 2025 at 5:19 PM
and, yes, I confidently predict that there will be a new DeltaOne suite introduced (as well as new seats in Comfort and Main.)
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) July 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
These planes come from the order Delta placed 18 months ago with 20 aircraft firm and options for 20 more.
Airbus A350-900, Credit: Delta
Airbus A350-900, Credit: Delta
Delta was the first U.S. airline, and second airline in the world behind Qatar Airways, to put doors on direct aisle access long haul business class seats. However their long haul fleet still doesn’t have these fully installed. And the seat has definitely been surpassed by competitors. Delta’s basic seat is the Thompson Vantage XL, which isn’t close to top of market for current business class.
Current Delta Suite
American Airlines now has business class suites on their new Boeing 787-9P, using Adient Ascent seats which are excellent (though in a dense configuration). United has announced that their new delivery 787s will have a similar seat as well. So Delta needs to avoid falling into last place (a spot currently held amongst the three by United, though Delta’s 767 seats are the worst flying long haul for a U.S. or European flag carrier).
American Airlines Boeing 787-9P
Delta has upped its game on the ground with Delta One lounges, and is improving its soft product (with better wines, though a step behind United, and better bedding). New seats on new planes helps, but as of now there’s no plan to retrofit existing aircraft with the new seat that they unveil with A350-1000 aircraft.
If Delta hasn’t improved the narrow footwell, it really won’t be much better.
Delta also announced that it will only require 1.75 million Sky-Pesos to book a one way ticket from JFK to LHR.
That AA pic looked similar to the BA seat we just flew on. Not terrible- and very private and small -but certainly doesn’t hold a candle to the new DL seats
I have said for years that DL will put new D1 Suites on its A350-1000s and I would strongly bet that seat will be the platform for the A330CEOs which will be reconfigured.
It is highly unlikely that DL will take 12 of its 20 35K orders in 2028 and I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2026 deliveries are pushed to early 2027
they are reportedly opting for all the fuel tank options and the highest gross takeoff weight (322 tonnes) so it will be an 18 hour plane w/ little effort.
The DL 35K will be the flagship and most capable and cost efficient aircraft in the entire US airline fleet.
Geez tim
sometimes you can’t control your rage about JonNyc leaking something.
when it’s about DL? You seem ok despite anything that shows it’s groundbreaking. But I’m sure we all hope it is. What do you think is groundbreaking about it?
You seemed to jump, as usual, on to anything painting Delta in a positive light but have no idea what it is. Which does just show your usual ignorance to anything delta groundbreaking…
Tim,
you’re too predictable and sad.
“What do you think is groundbreaking about it?”
just to preempt our Tim’s usual nonsense
let’s skip ahead. What is it about JonNYC’s announcement that caused you to be so for it?
You seem infatuated with his advanced notice, but furious he had it (per past posts)
focus on the question before you rant, per usual.
I’m with @Tim Dunn and am genuinely excited for this. Thank you for posting about it, Gary. If it means phasing out older 767s, that’ll please @Gene. Now, where’s @Matt when you need him, amirite, @L737? “For a premium experience in a new a35K, please consider Delta (in the coming years.)” Keep climbing! 100 more years!
We’re all excited.
But
1. what is it? Should we be excited? What’s new?
2. Is Tim finally thrilled with JonNYC that he has better sources than Tim (Tim was fired from DL so not a surprise)
One more thing — I just hope DL doesn’t go with the standard reverse herringbone pattern that UA and AA have chosen. I wish they’d be original and keep reinventing like they did with the doors concept back in 2016. They can’t claim to be “industry-leading” in the U.S. and have the same hard product as their two primary competitors
Delta, you SOB – I’m in!
@1990 – More exciting news. I wonder what it’ll take to bring @Matt back from his retirement!
Look nice. Excited to see them. Would rather Delta focus on harmonizing the D1 hard product and do something with those crappy 76s and 332/3s.
max has clearly lost it. to precisely no one’s surprise. and because he can’t come up w/ actual sources, he trashes someone that does.
You, max, have never explained why I would have been fired from DL and be one of their biggest advocates.
Like everything else you say, there is zero logic for what Max says and a whole lot of evidence that Max is just talking out of his backside.
I simply said that I have said for years that DL would introduce a 2nd generation Delta One suite on the 35K and I believe it will be the platform on which the 330CEO D1 seats will be built.
It isn’t breaking news no matter who tries to say it is.
If someone comes up w/ the seat on which it is built, THAT would be breaking news.
and the DL 35K will be by far the most capable and efficient aircraft in the entire US carrier fleet.
and Parker,
DL IS retiring the 767s and will reconfigure the 330s… the latter was just confirmed by a DL exec.
it’s funny that people talk about harmonizing the DL fleet when DL will have 80 aircraft w/ Suite products by the end of this year while AA will have less than a dozen – which will grow to several dozen in a couple years – and UA will have far less and have made no commitments to retrofit any existing aircraft
and UA has also not committed to retiring any widebody aircraft.
DL has the MOST aircraft w/ the highest quality product and that number will be growing faster than either AA or UA…
It’s rather obvious that someone who’s participated in this thread firmly believes that his beloved Delta is the world’s only PERFECT airline.
What’s with the obsession with have doors on the business class seats? What might one be doing in there in which that kind of privacy is needed?