Delta Flying Airbus A350s From Seattle, Planning Growth

Competitors in Seattle is heating up in the case of lengthy haul service, as Delta more and more plans to function routes from the airport with its flagship Airbus A350.

Delta’s Seattle transpacific routes upgraded to A350

Delta has a hub in Seattle (SEA), whereby the airline flies throughout each the Atlantic and Pacific. Transatlantic locations embody Amsterdam (AMS), London (LHR), and Paris (CDG), whereas transpacific locations embody Seoul (ICN), Shanghai (PVG), Taipei (TPE), and Tokyo (HND).

Traditionally, these routes have primarily been operated by Airbus A330-900neos. Nevertheless, in latest weeks, we’ve seen the airline shift these routes to Airbus A350-900s:

• The Taipei Taoyuan route has been upgraded as of March 29, 2025
• The Seoul Incheon route has been upgraded as of March 29, 2025
• The Tokyo Haneda route has been upgraded as of Might 23, 2025

Delta is more and more shifting all of its mainland US to Asia routes to being operated by A350s, so it was open to debate whether or not this choice was particular to Seattle, or extra a few cohesive transpacific technique.

The A350 is taken into account Delta’s flagship plane. So, how have these plane upgrades affect capability?

• Delta’s A330-900neos characteristic 281 seats, together with 29 enterprise class seats, 28 premium financial system seats, and 224 financial system seats
• Delta’s commonplace A350-900s characteristic 306 seats, together with 32 enterprise class seats, 48 premium financial system seats, and 226 financial system seats
• Delta’s new premium A350-900s characteristic 275 seats, together with 40 enterprise class seats, 40 premium financial system seats, and 195 financial system seats

As you possibly can see, throughout the board the A350 represents a major enhance in premium capability, whereas it represents both a tiny enhance in financial system capability, or perhaps a discount. Whereas each plane varieties have Delta One Suites, the A350-900 has a greater product than the A330-900neo.

Delta plans A350 pilot base in Seattle, extra progress

JonNYC studies that Delta is planning on opening an Airbus A350 pilot base in Seattle, in all probability within the spring of 2026. The timing is solely because of the upcoming pilot hiring cycle, since switching opening bases may be logistically difficult, and airways are strategic about that.

Now, with three lengthy haul routes from Seattle already served by A350s, there’s maybe benefit to a pilot base there, even with out further capability. Nevertheless, studying the tea leaves, it certain appears seemingly that this additionally signifies that Delta will broaden its A350 service from the airport. Don’t be stunned to see a few of Delta’s Europe routes finally operated by the A350, particularly with the airline taking supply of extra of those planes.

DL appears to be seeking to make SEA an A350 base
it waits on new rent cycle, fall of this yr to spring of ’26 appears to be the hiring timeframe.

— JonNYC (@xjonnyc.bsky.social) June 3, 2025 at 8:47 PM

That is clearly an Alaska aggressive response

Why is Delta all of the sudden upgrading a few of its Seattle flights to A350s, and opening a pilot base there? I believe the reply is fairly apparent.

Primarily, I assume that is in response to the “battle in Seattle” between Alaska and Delta. Alaska is popping Seattle into a worldwide gateway. The airline has already launched flights to Tokyo Narita (NRT), plans to launch flights to Seoul Incheon (ICN) as of September 2025, and plans to launch flights to Rome (FCO) as of Might 2026. Alaska actually has a really loyal following in Seattle, and in addition a large community of connectivity.

Till now, Delta has been the dominant lengthy haul provider in Seattle, regardless of not having as loyal of a following within the Pacific Northwest, and in addition not having as in depth of a connecting community in america. Clearly Delta goes to attempt to compete, although it stays to be seen how this all performs out.

I assume there’s one other issue at play right here, although. Delta is taking supply of quite a few A350-900s within the coming months. On prime of that, Delta is reconfiguring its ex-LATAM A350s to have a extra aggressive product, in order that they’ll begin serving routes which can be much less leisure oriented.

Now, I’m very curious to see how these tools upgrades work out:

• Delta doesn’t want the incremental vary of the A350-900 out of Seattle, in contrast to for lengthy haul flights in another markets
• Delta’s Taipei load elements have been abysmal over many months, and I can’t think about the route is making any cash; heck, Delta even retains having award gross sales for enterprise class on this route, which nearly by no means occurs in different markets
• So I’m wondering if this capability improve displays precise success for Delta out there, or if the airline is actually going “all-in” to attempt to acquire market share in Seattle, as a part of a aggressive response

It goes with out saying that Delta is a extremely profitable airline. Nevertheless, Delta’s greatest success has traditionally been in fortress hubs, which the airline dominates. Seattle is Delta’s solely hub the place the provider is the underdog.

Sure, Delta has the benefit of transatlantic and transpacific joint ventures, an present lengthy haul community from the airport, and a aggressive product. Nevertheless, Alaska has the benefit by way of a loyal following, a bigger connecting community, and a greater value construction. Moreover, we all know that Alaska is 100% dedicated to its technique, and gained’t hand over in Seattle.

So will there be room for each airways to compete in the long term, or may we see Delta finally retreat, and as a substitute focus extra on lengthy haul service from Salt Lake Metropolis (SLC)?

Backside line

In latest occasions, Delta has upgraded its three transpacific routes from Seattle to the Airbus A350-900. Not solely that, however the airline reportedly plans to quickly open an A350 pilot base in Seattle, suggesting we may see much more A350 operations on the airport.

Whereas this partly displays that Delta is continuous to develop its A350 fleet, I’d argue that it primarily displays the provider making an attempt to grow to be as aggressive as doable with Alaska, because the airline more and more operates lengthy haul flights. Delta is clearly going all-in in defending its lengthy haul community in Seattle. How this performs out in the long term is anybody’s guess.

What do you make of Delta going all-in with the A350 in Seattle?