Delta Air Lines recently placed an order for up to 60 Boeing 787-10s, which will be delivered as of 2031. This is a major development for the airline, given the carrier’s wide body fleet renewal has otherwise been centered around Airbus jets, making this a big win for Boeing.
However, rumors now suggest that we could now see another aircraft order from Delta, and one certainly wonders what that could entail. Let me share what’s rumored, and my speculation…
In this post:
Is Delta in the market for more wide body planes?
On social media, JonNYC has dropped a hint that he gets the sense that Delta may be looking at another aircraft order, even after the recent Dreamliner order. Obviously that’s super vague, but JonNYC has a great track record, and I would assume that there’s something to this.
That’s not to say that any decision will be finalized, but instead, that it’s something that executives at Delta are seriously considering. While JonNYC doesn’t clarify one way or another what types of planes we’re talking about, perhaps the most interesting “gap” in Delta’s current fleet renewal is that the airline isn’t expected to take delivery of any wide body planes between 2028 and 2031(ish).
That’s because Delta plans to take delivery of Airbus A350-1000s in 2027 and 2028 (at this point deliveries may realistically stretch into 2029, given delays), while the Boeing 787-10s will only be delivered as of 2031.
Delta: Why do I get the distinct feeling that the company credit card is still out even after it's recent workout at the Boeing store.
— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) January 15, 2026 at 11:04 PM
How I could see Delta’s wide body growth playing out
If we are to assume that Delta is in the market for more wide body aircraft, and if the goal is to sort of “plug the gap” in deliveries, then one aircraft seems most likely to me — the Airbus A330-900neo. That simply comes down to looking at Delta’s existing fleet, and considering available delivery slots, since there’s a years-long wait for new A350s and 787s.
For context on the current state of Delta’s “next generation” wide body fleet renewal:
- Delta has 39 Airbus A330-900neos, with no more on order
- Delta has 40 Airbus A350-900s, with four more jets on order
- Delta has 20 Airbus A350-1000s on order, to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, plus options for 20 more
- Delta has 30 Boeing 787-10s on order, to be delivered as of 2031
Then in terms of Delta’s older generation wide body aircraft:
- Delta has 11 Airbus A330-200s, which are an average of 21 years old
- Delta has 31 Airbus A330-300s, which are an average of 17 years old
- Delta has 38 Boeing 767-300ERs, which are an average of 29 years old
- Delta has 21 Boeing 767-400ERs, which are an average of 25 years old
When you look at the current state of things, it does seem like Delta needs some more “workhorse” wide body jets in the long run. Keep in mind the A350-1000s are largely supposed to be used for ultra long haul expansion, including to destinations in Asia, the Middle East, and India, which aren’t currently served. So if you view those planes as being for growth rather than fleet renewal, then you realize what a shortage Delta potentially has.
The airline has 91 older generation aircraft that eventually need to be retired, while the airline has a total of 54 wide body aircraft on order, and 34, if you subtract the A350-1000s. Now, admittedly the A330-300s in particular could easily fly for another decade (or even longer… we’re talking about Delta here), so I’m not suggesting these are being rushed out. Quite to the contrary, they’re even getting new cabins soon.
It’s anyone’s guess how this plays out. Delta is good at flying planes way past their “prime,” so perhaps Delta can wait until well into the mid-2030s for additional new planes. At the same time, realistically we will need to see more planes ordered.
I suspect we’ll see the airline exercise options for the A350-1000 and/or 787-10. If the airline has shorter term needs, then I think some incremental A330-900neos would be the obvious choice. So we’ll mark this as “developing,” and I could be totally off base.
Bottom line
Delta recently placed a firm order for 30 Boeing 787-10s, with 30 options. JonNYC suggests that Delta could be looking at another aircraft order in the near future, and it sure seems like the most likely scenario would be that Delta places another wide body order.
At least in the long run, Delta still needs more next generation wide body aircraft. I think it’s highly likely that Delta exercises the options for additional 787-10s, but the first batch are only coming in 2031, so that’s a very long term plan.
Beyond that, it seems exercising options for the A350-1000 would make sense. Otherwise, adding more A330-900neos seems like the only other logical choice.
What additional aircraft order do you think Delta could place, and how do you see this playing out?
Hey @Tim Dunn you have have been too busy in thread to realize someone over at VFTW dared suggest DL’s pitching F is the worst among domestic carriers. DL really needs your help over there! Run, Tim, run!
lol
Nice. Facts are always tough for dear Timmy
I would LOL if they ended up ordering the XLR. The backtracking by the resident dipstick would be amazing!
DL has A321NEOs on order and option; they could convert what they have - and pay the extra for them - if they wanted to.
and you do realize that this article - tied to Jon- is talking about widebodies and the XLR is a narrowbody?
now, who is the dipstick?
I like how people somehow have to always tie everything to Trump. Even though what Trump says and does has zero impact on their lives.
George. that's an astonishingly stupid comment. Trump's tariffs alone have added roughly $1,100-$1,500 per household in 2025 and drove prices up 4-5% on imported goods. His policies contributed about half a percentage point to inflation, which directly affects what Americans pay for everything from toys to appliances. His January 6 pardons freed violent offenders who have already been rearrested for new crimes, his administration rescinded EPA findings on greenhouse gas threats, stopped updating climate disaster...
George. that's an astonishingly stupid comment. Trump's tariffs alone have added roughly $1,100-$1,500 per household in 2025 and drove prices up 4-5% on imported goods. His policies contributed about half a percentage point to inflation, which directly affects what Americans pay for everything from toys to appliances. His January 6 pardons freed violent offenders who have already been rearrested for new crimes, his administration rescinded EPA findings on greenhouse gas threats, stopped updating climate disaster data that communities use for planning, and rolled back protections for healthcare access. His actions upending the post-war international rules based order has hurt American prestige and made it more dangerous to be an American abroad. Claiming that "what Trump says and does has zero impact" on people's lives ignores the documented effects on prices, public safety, scientific research, and healthcare that touch millions of Americans daily.
No idea who this JonNYC person is, but he is one of the most plugged-in and reliable sources out there for all things airline-related. Thanks for the information, Jon, and by extension, Ben!
there is nothing that Jon has said here that anyone couldn't have known reading DL's financial statements including from last year when they said they had options for 20 Airbus widebody aircraft.
The delivery timeline for the 787 order made it clear that DL has a gap in widebody deliveries between the A350-1000 confirmed order and the first 787 deliveries.
Even the high school basement dwellers on a.net figured out that DL is likely going...
there is nothing that Jon has said here that anyone couldn't have known reading DL's financial statements including from last year when they said they had options for 20 Airbus widebody aircraft.
The delivery timeline for the 787 order made it clear that DL has a gap in widebody deliveries between the A350-1000 confirmed order and the first 787 deliveries.
Even the high school basement dwellers on a.net figured out that DL is likely going to convert the Airbus widebody options to orders.
and that isn't a huge leap because DL has a pretty strong track record of converting all of its options to orders.
The difference between AA and DL on one side and UA and WN to a lesser extent on the other side is that AA and DL don't place massive orders (AA used to) because they can get planes delivered within a couple years. There is no reason to put the stress on the balance sheet o putting hundreds of planes on order for a decade in advance when you can get them delivered on a couple years notice.
Remember that the A350-1000s were ordered by Delta precisely 2 years ago and were supposed to be delivered within the next couple months. They may be delayed by one year but it still will take less than 3 years from order to delivery even with a delay.
There is no reason to place orders 5 years in advance if you can get planes in less time w/o having to put money down or make a financial commitment that you might regret if the economy falls apart.
“ Even the high school basement dwellers on a.net…”
You mean the people on the website that banned you under multiple usernames, IP address and all?
Delta should go back to the old TechOps days and buy some 777s cheap.
There’s a lot of things DL should go back to the old days around. LOL!
Delta is the perfect "premium" airline for the Trump era, where we can just pretend something is so just by saying it over and over again even as it tries to bleed us dry
It doesn’t take John or a genius to figure out that Delta has a gap and deliveries between its current A350-1000 orders and the arrival of the 787s.
Delta also has options for Airbus wide bodies and they must certainly will exercise them, very likely for more A350Ss and likely 1000s
We may find out when Delta files. It’s 10 K if they have exercise the options for the airbus wide bodies, but there will likely be no press release or other announcement
Ehm, he goes by *Jon*... no 'h'...
Keep Climbing, Tim.
yeah,, and I whipped out that reply while outside exercising.
Siri isn't smart enough to know the difference between Jon and John.
Tim how much international growth should we be expecting out of DL over the next few years with this lack of wide bodies on order that can’t even replace the aging wide bodies they have?
I know you love to slam UAL for retiring aircraft and not growing this year, just curious on where your twisted head is at with Delta likely having to do the same?
I fully expect them to exercise the 20 airbus widebody options sooner rather than later. On a.net a few people have said they expect this to be all 359s and 35Ks for their cargo capacity and higher MTOW. The question becomes if they can get delivery slots for 2029 and 2030.
I don't see them taking anymore 339s, unless something drastic changes.
Delta has Airbus widebody options -currently held as 10 each of A330-900s and 10 A350-900s with the ability to convert them to any Airbus widebody models.
Options as DL holds them are price protected and date specific.
DL has to notify Airbus within a specified period to use them but typically not less than 2 years before the planned delivery. If DL doesn't exercise the options, then Airbus can release those slots for other airlines.
...Delta has Airbus widebody options -currently held as 10 each of A330-900s and 10 A350-900s with the ability to convert them to any Airbus widebody models.
Options as DL holds them are price protected and date specific.
DL has to notify Airbus within a specified period to use them but typically not less than 2 years before the planned delivery. If DL doesn't exercise the options, then Airbus can release those slots for other airlines.
Boeing works the same way.
DL has likely not exercised the options yet because it does not need to. The confirmed A350-1000 orders are likely going to be delivered through 2028. If DL wants more planes in the 2029-2031 time period, they will likely need to exercise the options this year and may have already done so.
There will likely not be an announcement to convert options. It happens all the time.