- 15 Jan, 2026
What Delta Air Lines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner Deal Signals For The Global Aviation Industry
On January 13, 2026, Delta Air Lines announced the addition of Boeing 787 Dreamliners to their fleet, which increases its 787-10 fleet size by 30 new wide-body aircraft and improves fuel efficiency & flight experience. It also placed an order for up to 60 more 787 Dreamliners for its long-haul international flights. These new 787 Dreamliners will be added as a new fleet type for Delta. The airline also compliments Boeing for its previous order of 100 aircraft of the Boeing 737 10 MAX lineup. The deal between Delta Air Lines and Boeing for 787 jets is being viewed as a strength for the US aerospace industry and advanced manufacturing, as its engine and body are being developed in the United States.
Dan Janki, Chief Financial Officer of Delta Air Lines, said, "Today's 787 order adds diversity to our widebody order book, while creating cost-efficient scale across all widebody fleets." He added, "Our Fleet strategy is positioning Delta for the future by enhancing the customer experience and driving operational improvements."
The order represents a further step towards Delta Air Lines' fleet expansion and evolution, building a strong foundation for growth and an industry-leading network that will eventually broaden its global reach. With the vision of operating the most extensive international schedule, Delta is poised to make new history.
"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, " said Ed Dastian. "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."
What Delta’s Boeing 787 Dreamliners Mean For Passenger Comfort And Routes?
These new Boeing 787 Dreamliners mean a lot to passengers. As of now, Delta Air Lines has not shared any details of its seat maps, and it is likely to do so after a couple of years. The aircraft may be redesigned to feature its Delta One suite and incorporate some additional extended features. The overall layout of the cabins and premium select seats will be improved as per the specifications for the Transatlantic and South American routes.
Key Features of Delta's New 787 Dreamliners
- The Boeing 787 Dreamliners feature a wide, spacious, and quiet cabin, which significantly enhances a passenger's in-flight and flying experience.
- Flyers will also be provided with tint-controlled windows and spacious overhead bins when flying on international routes.
- Compared to the current Delta One suites, which comprise 45% of seats, the new higher-gauge aircraft will feature better and extra Delta Premium Select seats and Delta Comfort seats.
- The in-flight entertainment system will offer over 1,000 hours of complimentary content spanning multiple genres, along with high-speed internet access via Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
The President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Stephanie Pope, said, "We are excited that Delta Air Lines has selected the 787-10 to join its fleet of the future. The 787 Dreamliner's unmatched efficiency, range, and passenger comfort make it a perfect fit for Delta's international expansion and fleet modernization," She also added, "Our team looks forward to delivering new Dreamliners to Delta and supporting their commitments to provide an exceptional passenger experience and advance sustainability in aviation."
To power the aircraft, Delta Air Lines has selected GEnx engines provided by GE Aerospace and entered into a service agreement with GE Aerospace for maintenance. This GEnx uses an advanced carbon-fiber blade designed to be both lightweight and durable. "For more than 60 years, GE Aerospace has been proud to partner with Delta Air Lines, and we're honored that the GEnx now will be underwing to support their international growth plans," said GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp. Jr. "The GEnx engine will provide reliability, efficiency, and durability for years to come."
Key Takeaways
- Delta Air Lines has bought 30 787-10 jets from Boeing, followed by an additional 30 787 Dreamliner variant.
- These Boeing 787 planes enhance the premium comfort of passengers' flight experience.
- The 787-10 will be operating densely on the transatlantic and South American Networks.
- These 787 Dreamliners offer 25% better fuel efficiency.
- GEnx engines, developed by GE Aerospace, will power these 787 Dreamliners.
Sources:
- https://investors.boeing.com/investors/news/press-release-details/2026/Delta-Air-Lines-Orders-up-to-60-Boeing-787-Dreamliners-to-Grow-Modernize-Widebody-Fleet/default.aspx
- https://news.delta.com/delta-adds-boeing-787-dreamliner-widebody-fleet
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