Delta Air Lines will change the aircraft on its route between Atlanta (ATL) y Buenos Aires/Ezeiza (EZE) from 2025, ceasing to operate with a Boeing 767-400(ER) and replacing it with the Airbus A330-900.
Delta is the largest customer of A330neowith 29 in total, which stands out for incorporating a power plant Rolls-Royce Trent 7000greater wingspan and improvements in its winglets than its previous versions (A330-200/-300) and has pending delivery of nine additional units.
It also features Airspace interiors, with increased ambient lighting depending on the stage of the flight for greater passenger comfort. Delta has configured the A330-9s with 281 seats: 29 in Delta One, 28 in Premium Select, 56 in Comfort+ and 168 in Economy.
This change represents a 18% increase in seating capacity compared to the Boeing 767-400, which has 238 seats. Although it includes five fewer seats in the class Delta Oneoffers more capacity in other classes, improving the overall offering.
Additionally, for the holiday season, Delta will operate for the first time two daily flights between Atlanta y Buenos Aires. The second flight will be carried out with a Airbus A330-300 between December and January.
Likewise, the airline will resume its flights from New York (JFK) to Buenos Aires in Octobera route that for the moment will extend to March 2025with A330-900.
According to ANAC Argentina, between January and August, Delta Air Lines transported 160,505 passengers with an occupancy of 85%.
Delta and its Airbus A330neo in South America
This will not be the first Delta Air Lines flight with a Airbus A330neo in Argentina, since the airline began operating with this model in March 2024, temporarily replacing the Boeing 767-400(ER) on the route to New York. From 2025, the only destinations in South America that will receive the A330-900 will be Buenos Aires/Ezeiza y Sao Paulo/Guarulhos (GRU).
Previously, TAP Air Portugal carried out a series of cargo charter operations at the end of 2021 with the A330neo, with three aircraft: CS-TUO, CS-TUS and CS-TUQ.
The end of an era for Boeing 767s in South America
The withdrawal of the Boeing 767-400(ER) Delta’s move to Argentina marks the end of an era for this model, which has been a mainstay on the airline’s South American routes for decades. Boeing 767 have been progressively replaced by larger and more modern aircraft, such as the A330-300he A330-900 and the Airbus A350 on routes to Santiago, Lima y São Pauloafter improving its alliance with LATAM.
With the change made by Delta, starting in October Argentina will stop receiving Boeing 767 passengers, the only remaining operation with this model in South America will be the route Atlanta – Rio de Janeirowhich will continue to be operated with the version Boeing 767-400(ER).
In the field of loading, LATAM Cargo will continue to operate the Boeing 767 in the region, along with other operators such as DHL Aero Express, FedEx y UPS.
