One of the worst kept secrets in aviation is finally out, Delta is ordering the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as part of its widebody fleet refresh.
Delta Orders up to 60 Boeing 787-10s
Delta Air Lines has just placed an order for 30 Boeing 787 aircraft with options for 30 more. The Atlanta based carrier is purchasing the 787-10, the largest of the 787 variants, to replace some of its aging Boeing 767 fleet. According to the airline, it won’t begin taking delivery of these aircraft until 2031 at the earliest.
The 787 will be a new fleet type for Delta and the order marks a departure from its traditional fleet orders. While Delta has Boeing 767s in its fleet, the carrier has increasingly moved towards Airbus orders to refresh both its long haul and short haul fleet.
Currently, Delta’s flagship aircraft is the Airbus A350. The airline has 40 A350-900s in the fleet with four more on order. It also has a further 20 Airbus A350-1000s on order, which will become the carrier’s new flagship aircraft upon delivery. Delta also operates a large fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft and has taken delivery of 39 A330-900neos to compliment its legacy fleet of 42 A330ceos.
The 787 Dreamliners will be used to replace aging Boeing 767s, of which Delta has 59 in the fleet. Specifically, the 787-10 will replace capacity as the older 767-300s are removed from international service towards the end of the decade.
In announcing the order, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said this:
“Delta is building the fleet for the future, enhancing the customer experience, driving operational improvements and providing steady replacements for less efficient, older aircraft in the decade to come. Most importantly, these aircraft will be operated by the best aviation professionals in the industry, providing Delta’s welcoming, elevated and caring service to travelers worldwide.”
Dan Janki, Delta’s Chief Financial Officer, added:
“Today’s 787 order adds diversity to our widebody order book, while creating cost-efficient scale across all widebody fleets. Our fleet strategy is positioning Delta for the future by enhancing the customer experience and driving operational improvements.”
How the 787 Fits Into Delta’s Network
While the 787 order was well known, I’m somewhat surprised that the airline elected to operate the largest variant of the plane. Delta’s 767-300s have roughly 215 seats while the 787-10 can hold north of 300 seats (United has 313 seats on its 787-10s).
I would have expected Delta to order the 787-8 or 787-9 to replace the 767s but, due to the more favorable economics of the new planes, they may have decided the excess capacity was worth the risk. Delta has also indicated that it has no plans to fly narrowbody jets on Transatlantic routes, meaning all long-haul expansion will come on larger aircraft.
Delta is planning to use the 787-10 on its Transatlantic and South American networks as the older 767s are retired or moved to domestic use. While the airline promises that the new planes will offer 25% better fuel efficiency per seat, more capacity, larger premium cabins, and enhanced cargo capability, the news isn’t great for those that typically fly Economy.
Currently Delta outfits its 767s in a 2-3-2 configuration, meaning only 14% of seats in Economy are middle seats. The 787 typically operates in a 3-3-3 configuration, meaning 33% of Economy seats will be middle seats. Given Delta’s premium focus, there is some hope that the airline will use a 2-4-2 layout, similar to what is found on Japan Airlines, on these planes.
For passengers seated at the front of the aircraft, Delta is planning to install Delta One Suites onboard, something that isn’t possible on the 767 due to the width of the cabin. Delta is also expected to have more Premium Economy and Extra Legroom Economy seats on these aircraft.
The 787 also makes sense given the space constraints at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Delta’s largest hub. The A330-900neos have a wingspan 13 feet wider than the 787 (the A350 is roughly 15 feet wider) which makes spacing in Atlanta difficult for the larger jets.
There are multiple gates in Atlanta where A330neos and A350s can’t park side by side. Delta uses the smaller 767s and A330ceos to get around these constraints but, as those planes are retired, parking at the world’s busiest airport could become an issue. Given the way Delta likes to buy aircraft on the cheap, this likely wasn’t a major factor but it could have been an aspect in the final decision.
What are your thoughts on Delta’s Boeing 787 order?
Summary
Delta Air Lines has placed an order for up to sixty Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners. The carrier will use these planes to replace aging Boeing 767-300s on Transatlantic and South American routes. Deliveries for these planes are expected to begin in 2031.
While I’m not surprised to see a Dreamliner order from Delta, the rumors have been floating around for quite a while, I am surprised that they decided to order the largest variant of the plane instead of the 787-9, especially considering the size of the plane it is intended to replace.