Delta Air Lines will officially retire its highest-capacity aircraft, the 339-seat Airbus A350, on October 25, 2023. This aircraft, which features a unique seating arrangement with 30 business class seats (2-2-2) and 63 extra legroom seats (3-3-3), has been a notable part of Delta’s fleet. It also carries 246 seats in the main cabin, configured in a 3-3-3 layout.
The transition marks a significant shift for Delta, as only two variants of the A350-900 will remain in operation following this retirement: the 275-seater and the 306-seater. The specific aircraft set for retirement, registered as N569DZ, has been in service for approximately 9.7 years. Its last flight with the 339-seat configuration will be from Amsterdam back to Atlanta, where Delta operates 79% of its flights. After this final service, the aircraft will be sent to Singapore’s Paya Lebar for reconfiguration into a lower-capacity, premium 275-seat layout.
Reasons Behind the A350 Configuration Change
Delta originally acquired nine A350 aircraft with the 339-seat configuration from LATAM, which was influenced by the South American carrier’s decision to offload its A350-900 fleet during its bankruptcy proceedings in May 2020. The aircraft’s large capacity was seen as a temporary solution, especially given the reduced demand during the pandemic. Delta’s decision to phase out this configuration reflects challenges faced by the 339-seater, including its less competitive business class seating, which lacked direct aisle access.
While the A350-900 is considered Delta’s flagship aircraft, the introduction of the A350-1000 is anticipated to further enhance the airline’s offerings. Delta’s A350 fleet has operated predominantly from Atlanta, with the 339-seat version accounting for a staggering 94% of its services from this hub since entering revenue service in June 2022. The most frequent route for this configuration has been from Atlanta to Lima, responsible for 15% of its total flights.
Flight Schedule and Future Operations
On October 24, N569DZ will operate flight DL72 from Atlanta to Amsterdam, arriving early the following morning. The final passenger-carrying flight in the 339-seat configuration will take place on October 25, departing Amsterdam at 10:10 local time and arriving in Atlanta at 13:34 local time. Following the transition to winter schedules, Delta will replace the A350 on this route with the 282-seat A330-300, while the other daily winter service will utilize the A330-900.
Data from Cirium indicates that the A350 is not scheduled to operate the Amsterdam-Atlanta route through August 2026, raising questions about the potential for its return to this service in the future.
In summary, the retirement of the 339-seat Airbus A350 marks a notable change for Delta Air Lines as it continues to adapt its fleet to meet evolving market demands and enhance passenger experience.
