The New Delta Air Lines Long Haul Aircraft Coming in 2026
Delta Air Lines has made some unique fleet decisions compared to other US carriers. On the widebody front, it has gone with Airbus for new twin-aisle planes, while American and United rely on Boeing jets. In addition, both of Delta's competitors fly a small fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs as their flagship aircraft (20 in the case of American and 22 in the case of United). Meanwhile, Delta's largest aircraft is the Airbus A350-900, an airliner more comparable in size to the Boeing 777-200ER.
Soon, however, this will change, as Delta Air Lines holds orders for 20 A350-1000's, which are nearly the same size as the 777-300ER. These will be the largest aircraft that Delta has operated since the retirement of the Boeing 747 in 2017, and the Atlanta-based carrier intends to begin taking delivery of these planes in 2026. As such, they will serve a new role for the airline, and they're also expected to debut new interiors, given the age of the carrier's current premium products.
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Delta's Airbus A350-1000 Order
Credit: Delta Air Lines
In 2024, Delta Air Lines ordered 20 Airbus A350-1000s along with 20 options. The carrier currently has 39 A350-900s in service and five more on order, for a combined total of 44 planes. Once the A350-1000s are delivered, this will total 64 aircraft, and if Delta decides to exercise its 20 options, this will add up to 84 Airbus A350 family aircraft in Delta's fleet. This would make it the world's third-largest operator of the Airbus A350, behind only Air France and Turkish Airlines.
The A350-1000 is a larger variant of the A350-900. It features a fuselage stretch that matches the length of the Boeing 777-300ER, although the latter holds more passengers as it seats ten-abreast in economy (as opposed to nine-abreast on the A350). However, the A350's more space-efficient interior layout helps close the gap slightly.
The A350-1000 features a larger wing and new landing gear compared to the A350-900, along with more powerful Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. This model is available with a Maximum Takeoff Weight of up to 322 tons, and it has a range of up to 9,000 NM (16,688 km). While its sales have historically lagged significantly behind the A350-900, the A350-1000 has outsold the A350-900 in 2025.
Click to read more: https://simpleflying.com/new-delta-air-lines-long-haul-aircraft-coming-2026/
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Sign up for Delta’s Alumni & Retiree Newsletter
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Interesting enough, as I retire from publishing the HighLife, Delta is producing a monthly Delta Alumni & Retiree Newsletter. Sign up and stay in the loop.
Delta’s Retiree Newsletter:
| | | Welcome to SkyHub — Your New Alumni Connection Space!
Have you joined SkyHub yet? SkyHub is Delta’s internal social and communications platform, powered by Workvivo. It’s a central space where employees and retirees can stay informed with company news, HR updates, engage with other alumni and share stories across the Delta family. For retirees especially, it’s a meaningful way to stay connected!
If you haven’t received your invite yet, please reach out to SkyHubITsupport@delta.com for assistance. Your invite should come from: Delta Air Lines no-reply@skyhub.delta.com. Once you activate your account, you can log in anytime at:
👉 https://workvivo.com/login
SkyHub Video Tutorials Are Live
We’ve launched a new Alumni Deltanet page with quick video tutorials to help you get the most out of SkyHub! Whether you're updating your profile, managing notifications or learning how to post — we’ve got you covered.
Watch tutorials on:
- Notification Settings
- Profile Settings
- Forgot Password
- How to Post
- How to Bookmark
- Reactions
We’re also working on exciting improvements like tagging, direct messaging and the ability to edit replies — plus more videos coming soon!
MORE INFORMATION | Deltanet |
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| Free Will Preparation Service - MetLife Legal
The free Will Preparation service is available to Retirees who have life insurance coverage through Delta, Basic or Optional Life. This includes enrolled retirees and their spouse/domestic partner.
The service is provided by MetLife Legal Plans and includes: - Free consultations
- Will preparation and updates
- Testamentary trusts
- Codicils
To access the service, call MetLife Legal Plans at 800-821-6400 (M–F, 8am–7pm ET). Delta’s group number is 300533.
LEARN MORE | Deltanet
Medicare Made Easy – Just for the Delta Family
Thinking about Medicare? Join the Insurance Trust for Delta Retirees (ITDR) for an in-person Meet & Greet to learn about exclusive group Medicare plans, dental and vision options and connect with fellow Delta retirees. Multiple sessions will be offered near ATL and MSP.
MORE INFORMATION | View all events & register
Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 4
Open Enrollment for the 2026 plan year runs from Monday, Nov. 4 through Wednesday, Nov. 19.
More information will be shared soon, including how to access the Open Enrollment Headquarters via self-service on Benefits Direct.
Stay tuned and be prepared to make your selections as soon as the election window opens.
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Secondary Travel Companion: Quick Guide
Retirees can add one secondary travel companion for unaccompanied nonrevenue standby travel at S3B priority, even if they already have a primary companion.
Key Info: - Eligibility: Available to retirees
- Priority: S3B
- Limit: Once a year on Deltaversary date
- Imputed Income: May apply based on travel usage
If you're unsure how to add a secondary companion, click the link below for a step-by-step guide and a video tutorial.
MORE INFORMATION | Deltanet
S1A Emergency Travel: Policy Reminder
S1A is for urgent, life-or-death travel — like funerals (within 7 days) or critical hospitalizations of immediate family. No pre-approval needed; just check in using S1A and notify Delta afterward.
Click the link below to understand what is S1A is, when you can use it, who is eligible, how to notify Delta and more.
LEARN MORE | Deltanet
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Now Streaming: A Century of Flight
On September 15, Delta retirees, alumni and special guests gathered at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta for the premiere of A Century of Flight — a powerful documentary celebrating Delta’s 100-year journey.
Directed by Academy Award–nominated filmmaker Joshua Seftel, the 45-minute film features personal stories from Delta people and highlights how our values helped shape the airline’s legacy.
WATCH | A Century of Flight
Centennial BASH: See You There!
Delta’s Centennial BASH is happening Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST at Mercedes-Benz Stadium — and it’s going to be unforgettable! Enjoy live performances by Ludacris, Yacht Rock Revue and Thomas Rhett, plus a special appearance by Tom Brady and Team USA athletes.
Please note: Registration is now closed. More details will be shared directly with registered attendees in the days leading up to the event.
During the event, retirees can enjoy exclusive access to The Legacy Lounge — a dedicated space with curated food, entertainment and experiences designed just for our Delta retirees and alumni.
For more information about parking, bag policy, entertainment schedule, mobility accommodations and FAQs, visit Alumni Deltanet.
MORE INFORMATION | Deltanet
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Sardinia & Malta: Your Votes Made It Happen!
Thank you to everyone who voted in Delta’s first-ever Route Race! With nearly 150,000 votes cast, the results were split — SkyMiles Members chose Sardinia and Delta employees chose Malta. So, Delta is adding both destinations to the map in Summer 2026!
This exciting milestone shows the power of our Delta community in shaping the future of travel. Sardinia and Malta will be served nonstop from New York–JFK, offering unforgettable Mediterranean experiences.
MORE INFORMATION | Delta News Hub
What’s New in Delta’s Network
Delta is expanding its global network with exciting new routes and enhanced service across key cities.
From Boston, look for new nonstop flights to Madrid and Nice, plus boosted service to Barcelona and Milan.
In Austin, Delta is adding nonstop service to Denver, Columbus, Kansas City, and Miami, bringing the total destinations from Austin to nearly 30.
Looking ahead to Summer 2026, Sardinia and Malta will join the map — thanks to your votes in Delta’s first-ever Route Race.
And starting May 21, 2026, Delta will launch daily nonstop service from New York-JFK to Porto, Portugal, offering direct access to one of Europe’s most colorful coastal cities.
MORE INFORMATION | Delta News Hub
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