otlavia.com shares information about the Airbus awarded Delta Air Lines the first of its twenty-five A350-900s. The Atlanta-based company becomes the first operator of the type in the United States.
Delta confirmed on July 13 the delivery of its first Airbus A350-900 (MSN 115), its ” new flagship ” as she calls it. Commercial commissioning is scheduled for Oct. 30 between Detroit and Tokyo-Narita.
Delta wanted to make the A350 the showcase of its move upmarket. The unit inaugurates all new private suites in Business Class (Delta One) as well as a new Premium Economy (Delta Comfort +). In total, it can carry 306 passengers including 32 in Business class, 48 in Premium Economy and 226 in Economy. It will be equipped with 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi connectivity.
The company also expects economic benefits. The A350s ” should generate a 20% improvement in the operational cost per seat compared to the Boeing 747-400 they will replace, ” she said in a statement.
Delta has ordered 25 A350-900s in November 2015, of which 5 will be delivered this year. The device is intended for use on the transpacific network. The first copies will be stationed in Detroit and will fly to Seoul and Beijing, in addition to Tokyo-Narita. Japan Airlines provides airline travel news about Wi-Fi becoming free on domestic flights.
” The Airbus A350 sets a new standard in flight experience for our customers, representing years of product innovation. Delta continues to evolve into a global leader , “said Ed Bastian, Delta’s CEO. ” Our new flagship A350 integrates well with the long-haul network, combining an exceptional customer experience with a solid operating economy and energy efficiency as we retire older and less efficient aircraft .”
In the United States, the A350 was also ordered by United Airlines, which is expecting 35 A350-1000 theoretically from 2018, and American Airlines, the first of twenty-two A350-900 to be delivered in 2020.
