Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) is stripping new Airbus aircraft in Europe, cannibalising their engines to reactivate grounded planes in the United States, according to Bloomberg.
The airline is reportedly pursuing this strategy to address an engine shortage and avoid aircraft import tariffs. It is able to ship the Pratt & Whitney US-manufactured engines without incurring duties, while the aircraft themselves remain in Europe.
Bloomberg reported that some older A320neo jets parked have issues with their original turbines. These aircraft can be fitted with engines originally built in the United States and installed on new aircraft.
In the past, Delta’s management has firmly opposed paying tariffs on new aircraft deliveries. During the airline’s second-quarter 2025 investor call, chief executive Ed Bastian reiterated this stance. “We are not planning on paying any tariffs for aircraft deliveries,” he said, adding that while they are encouraged by ongoing discussions in Washington, the potential imposition of tariffs has contributed to the decision not to import the new aircraft into the United States. As a result, the airline will continue removing engines from those jets.
The United States imposes a 10% tariff on aircraft built in Europe.
ch-aviation data shows Delta has 65 aircraft out of a fleet of 1,007 currently inactive: five A220-100s, seven A319-100s, six A320-200s, three A321-200s, six A321-200NXs, one A330-200, one A330-300, four A330-900Ns, two A350-900s, six B717-200s, five B737-800s, five B737-900ERs, thirteen B757-200s, and one B767-300ER. It has pending orders for 274 planes including seventy-eight A321-200NXs and sixty-seven A220-300s.
Delta Air Lines declined to comment on the story.
