Delta Air Lines will introduce two new long-haul international routes operated with its new Airbus A350 aircraft. These services will connect Delta’s Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport hub with Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
With these additions, Delta will operate five international routes from Detroit using the A350. The Amsterdam service is scheduled to begin in March 2018, marking the A350’s first transatlantic deployment in Delta’s network. The Shanghai service is planned to follow in April.
“Amsterdam is our largest European hub, and we’re pleased that Delta customers and those of our joint venture partner KLM will be able to experience a refreshed Delta product between Europe and the U.S.,” said Dwight James, senior vice-president, trans-Atlantic for Delta.
The A350 cabin on Delta is arranged to provide a range of premium and economy experiences. The aircraft includes 32 Delta One Suites, each featuring a full-height door, a full-flat bed and direct aisle access; 48 Delta Premium Select seats in a 2-4-2 configuration; and 226 main cabin seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
Delta has recently focused expansion efforts in North Asia, and several new routes in that region contributed to fleet planning and demand for additional aircraft. Tokyo Narita (NRT) was the first route to receive Delta’s A350 service, with flights launching at the end of October.
These new A350 deployments reinforce Delta’s strategy to modernize long-haul cabins and expand premium offerings on high-demand international corridors. Passengers on the Detroit–Amsterdam and Detroit–Shanghai flights can expect the quieter cabin, improved humidity and air quality, and enhanced in-flight entertainment and connectivity that the A350 platform delivers, alongside Delta’s tailored onboard products across classes.