- Delta Air Lines is rerouting its new Airbus A350-900 delivery through Japan to avoid U.S. import tariffs.
- The aircraft, once flown for non-testing purposes, is classified as “used,” helping sidestep levies.
- CEO Ed Bastian reaffirmed Delta’s stance on avoiding tariffs, even if it means deferring deliveries.
Delta Air Lines is once again employing a savvy workaround to bypass costly U.S. import tariffs on foreign aircraft. In a move echoing past strategies, the airline is routing its brand-new Airbus A350-900 through Japan before bringing it to the U.S., skirting trade war penalties linked to aircraft imports.
How Delta’s Japan Stop Avoids Tariffs
Set to depart Toulouse, France — the hub of Airbus manufacturing — on April 30 and land in Tokyo by May 1, the A350-900 is making an unexpected stop. But this detour isn’t about convenience or necessity; it’s about avoiding tariffs.
Here’s the catch: under U.S. customs classifications, a plane is considered “used” once it has flown for any reason outside of its initial testing or direct delivery. Once that status changes, the aircraft is no longer subject to the import tariffs imposed during the Trump-era trade conflict with the EU. By flying to Japan first, Delta smartly transforms a new aircraft into a used one—on paper.
Delta Doubles Down: No Tariffs, No Exceptions
Delta’s CEO, Ed Bastian, made it crystal clear earlier this month: “We will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries.” And it’s not just talk. He emphasized to Airbus that Delta would defer any delivery subject to these added costs.
This move aligns with a broader stance by U.S. airlines. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom echoed Bastian’s sentiments, also refusing to accept any aircraft burdened by import levies. For carriers recovering from the pandemic, every dollar matters, and paying multimillion-dollar tariffs is simply not an option.
Delta’s Fleet Focus: All Eyes on Airbus
Delta’s 2025 aircraft intake is lean but strategic — just 10 new planes, all from Airbus. That includes a mix of A350-900s and A330neos. According to industry sources, one A330neo has already passed its customer acceptance flight, a key pre-delivery milestone. Two more are in the testing phase, indicating a steady pipeline of advanced, fuel-efficient jets bound for the airline.
This aligns with Delta’s ongoing strategy to modernize its fleet while optimizing operational costs. Airbus jets, particularly the A350 and A330neo, offer significant fuel savings and lower maintenance costs — factors that are increasingly critical amid rising fuel prices and sustainability commitments.
Trade War Loophole or Smart Business?
While critics may call it a loophole, Delta’s approach is entirely legal — and increasingly common among U.S. airlines facing geopolitical headwinds. With no end in sight to tariff disputes between the U.S. and EU, such tactics are likely to continue unless broader trade agreements ease the strain on aviation imports.
Ultimately, Delta’s rerouted delivery isn’t just a technicality. It’s a calculated business move designed to protect margins and maintain delivery timelines without compromising on cost.
By steering clear of tariff-laden skies, Delta shows how innovation doesn’t always happen in the cockpit — sometimes it’s in the flight path.
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