Why Delta Passed on the 787: Airbus Wins Over Quality Concerns

Delta Air Lines has chosen to operate Airbus A350 aircraft over Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, despite the latter being one of the most popular widebody jets in service. This decision was made after Delta canceled its order for 18 Boeing 787-8 variant aircraft inherited from Northwest Airlines in 2008. The airline opted for Airbus' A330 family and A350 widebodies instead.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has received over 2,199 firm orders, outpacing the Airbus A350's 1,428. However, many airlines have chosen the longer-ranged 787-9 and 787-10 variants over the 787-8, which is nearing the end of its production run.

Delta reportedly chose to avoid the Boeing 787 due to concerns about the manufacturer's quality control issues, particularly with the Dreamliner's lithium-ion batteries. This decision predates the 2019 MAX crisis and has allowed Delta to maintain a common type rating for its widebody fleet, consisting of A350 and A330neo aircraft.