Delta Ditches Airbus Decade Streak With Major Boeing Order

Delta Air Lines has finally broken its decade-long streak of buying only Airbus widebodies by ordering 30 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliners, with options for up to 30 more. The deal marks a significant shift in the airline's fleet strategy and will reshape its long-haul international network for years to come.

The order is a major coup for Boeing, which has been trying to regain ground on Airbus in the widebody market. Delta had previously walked away from an earlier Boeing 787 order in 2016 and instead opted for Airbus's A330neo and A350 jets.

The 787-10 is the largest member of the Dreamliner family and will seat up to 336 passengers, offering roughly 25% better fuel-efficient technology than older jets. Delta plans to use the new aircraft on high-demand transatlantic and South American routes, gradually replacing its aging Boeing 767-300ER and 767-400ER planes.

The order is also seen as a move to diversify away from relying on a single manufacturer, which can be vulnerable to production delays or supply chain issues. Delta's leadership has framed the decision as a way to add flexibility and cost-efficient scale across its widebody operations.