Delta’s Huge Atlanta Airbus A350 Operations Explored

Delta Air Lines’ first Airbus A350-900 arrived more than six years ago in July 2017. Examining ch-aviation data shows that the carrier now has more A350s (28) than A330-200s (11), A330neos (23), and 767-400ERs (21). Of Delta’s widebody fleet, only two types have more examples: the 767-300ER (45) and A330-300 (31).

Delta’s A350s: a summary

Analysis of Delta’s schedules for April 2024 – the first month in the Northern Hemisphere aviation summer season 2024 – reveals that its A350-900s will have an average sector length of 6,046 miles (9,730 km). (It is too early to look at the whole summer 2024 season, so consider this a tentative examination.)

That is far greater than the 4,148 miles (6,676 km) across its whole widebody fleet. Delta’s shortest A350 route is more than 10 times longer than the world’s shortest by all operators (based on September data).

Photo: Wirestock Creators I Shutterstock.

When only international flying is considered, its A350s average 6,915 miles (11,129 km), against ‘just’ 4,569 miles (7,353 km) for its twin aisles generally. Delta’s A350s operate longer routes to Asia, Australia, and Africa, including number one, Atlanta-Johannesburg.

Up to 339 seats

The carrier’s 28-strong A350 sub-fleet is summarized as follows by configuration. While entirely predictable, the average sector length of its less premium, higher-density 339-seat config aircraft is 29% below that of its more premium, lower-density, 306-seat config.

• 19 aircraft with 306 seats: 32 Delta One suites; 48 recliners in Premium Select; 36 Comfort+ seats; and 190 in regular economy
• Nine aircraft with 339 seats (formerly with LATAM): 30 Delta One suites; 63 Comfort+ seats; 246 in economy

Photo: Ronen Fefer I Shutterstock.

69% of flying is from Atlanta

While Delta plans a few domestic flights by the A350 next April (Atlanta-Los Angeles, Atlanta-Honolulu), almost all flying will obviously be long-haul. It has such flights from its hubs at Atlanta, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Minneapolis, with almost seven in ten services from Atlanta, which continues to be the world’s busiest airport.

Its Georgia hub is so fundamental to its A350 network that it has 14 of its 21 long-haul routes. This is against just three from Detroit, three from Los Angeles, and one from Minneapolis. When flights are considered, Atlanta has 94 weekly A350 international departures in April (double for both ways), against 42 weekly for the other three hubs combined.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying.

14 A350 long-haul Atlanta routes April

As of September 16th and subject to change, Delta plans the following routes. Note that other destinations, such as Lagos and Rome, see the A350 at times this coming winter, but switch to other aircraft next summer. Notice Madrid in the following table. The Spanish capital has not, until now, seen Delta’s A350s, with the first departure from Atlanta on March 31st.

Have you flown Delta’s A350s yet? If so, share your experience in the comments.

Sources: Cirium,;ch-aviation.