Why Delta Cancelled Its Boeing 787 Order

Delta once had orders for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner; however, it would go on to never fly the widebody.

The major U.S. carrier’s decision not to fly the aircraft isn’t as simple as an order cancellation; factors such as airline acquisition, fleet review, and more are involved.

The Landmark Boeing 787 Order

While Delta had the 787 on its books, it wasn’t the airline that ordered the aircraft. In fact, Northwest Airlines placed the order in 2005.

This deal consisted of 18 units from the family at the time. At the time, Northwest was still flying daily across a route network that several analysts believed would benefit from Boeing’s delivery of the 787.

By the mid-2000s, the 787 was indeed making its mark before being delivered to airlines that were very interested in the prospects of the new widebody.

Additionally, from a purely fleet standpoint for Northwest, the Dreamliner was considered an ideal plane for replacement efforts at the time of inefficient aircraft.

Aircraft orders like these that end up at another airline aren’t uncommon and will typically occur because of a merger/takeover/acquisition. If the latter happens, there will likely be complications regarding aircraft orders that have yet to be fulfilled.

Northwest Becomes No More

For Northwest, a mere half a decade after they purchased the 787 Dreamliner, they’d be absorbed by Delta, and while their memory still lives on to this day, their mere presence exists through Delta rather than their own defined brand.

In some cases, the aircraft the airline takes on as part of the purchase will be axed; maybe some will be retained, or there will be other things to consider.

However, the one underlying point will be that the airlines must come together to review the fleets and determine the best course of action with a genuine sense of direction.

By taking on Northwest, Delta immediately raised questions about the airline’s future strategy and what would come from the Dreamliners.

Saying Goodbye To The 787

This strategic decision-making process is hardly overnight. While it didn’t seem entirely likely that Delta would fly the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, they didn’t precisely outright remove the order.

They delayed and deferred deliveries of the aircraft to give themselves more time to make a firm decision. This is a common practice with airlines around the world for several reasons.

This allowed Delta more time to understand and plot its future. For other airlines, it can be a means to navigate turbulent financial times when they are not in a position to acquire new aircraft or to avoid taking an aircraft they no longer want.

A Shift To Airbus?

Delta’s time of review regarding its fleet saw quite a considerable shift, that is, the shift to Airbus. Delta’s shift to Airbus began in the early to mid-2010s with its first order in multiple decades.

This commitment to the European plane maker, initially for a narrowbody jet, would extend to other aircraft types as the years went by.

The shift meant that Delta’s priorities had changed, and what Airbus was offering them for their future fleet plans was viewed as more optimal, bringing greater efficiency and customer satisfaction.

This shift represents a positive step forward for Delta and its commitment to providing the best possible service to its customers.

A Boeing 787 Order Cancellation

By 2016, Delta’s order for the 787 it had taken on from Northwest would have received the final nail in the coffin, and an order cancellation would come through.

The reasoning behind the cancellation didn’t need to be overly stated. It was pretty much wrapped up with several comments that the decision to move away from the Dreamliner aligned with the airline’s fleet strategy.

It isn’t necessarily a lie that while the 787 brings fantastic levels of comfort, efficiency, and so much else to any prospective company, if the airline is moving in a different direction, adding another aircraft type, especially from another manufacturer, would complicate matters.

While Delta’s fleet was hardly streamlined in the mid-2010s, and the global pandemic allowed them to refine their fleet truly, they knew the basics: more aircraft from different series would overcomplicate matters from crew to maintenance.

Would the 787 have made an excellent addition to the Delta business, or do you think terminating the order makes more sense than retaining it? Let me know.