by Donald Wood
Last updated: 8:15 AM ET, Tue January 13, 2026
Delta Air Lines announced that it has struck a deal with
Boeing to order up to 60 of the manufacturer’s 787 Dreamliners, which the
airline hopes will support long-haul international growth and renew its widebody
fleet.
The purchase includes 30 of the Boeing 787-10 planes, with Delta
retaining the right to expand the deal to include up to 30 more of the largest
787 variant. Airline officials said the aircraft would enable expansion and
modernization plans on high-demand transatlantic and South American routes.
“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,” Delta
CEO Ed Bastian said.
“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,” Bastian continued.
In addition to the Boeing order, Delta also announced financial
results for the December quarter and full year 2025, and provided its outlook
for the March quarter and full year 2026.
While the airline forecast about 20 percent earnings growth
in 2026, Delta noted that overall passenger revenue rose just one percent in
the December quarter, partly due to the widening gap between lower- and
higher-income travelers.
“2026 is off to a strong start with top-line growth
accelerating on consumer and corporate demand,” Bastian said. “For the full
year, we expect to deliver margin expansion and earnings growth of 20 percent
year-over-year.”
The carrier is reporting that Main-cabin ticket revenue fell
seven percent from a year earlier, while revenue from premium products
increased nine percent.
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