Delta Airlines Pulls a Sneaky Move to Dodge Import Tariffs on Airbus Jets

[AIcash]

Delta Air Lines has come up with a clever (and slightly unexpected) way to avoid paying hefty import tariffs on aircraft made in the EU — by swapping engines.

According to a Bloomberg report, Delta has started removing engines from brand-new Airbus A321neo jets that are sitting idle in Europe and installing those engines into planes in the U.S. that are currently grounded due to turbine issues.

Here’s the kicker: the engines, made by American manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, can be brought into the U.S. tariff-free — unlike the full aircraft, which would get hit with a 10% import tax as of mid-July 2025.

Why are those shiny new Airbus planes just sitting around? Delta hasn’t yet received certification for the passenger seats from the FAA, so the jets can’t be used just yet. Meanwhile, some of their U.S.-based aircraft are grounded because their original engines were made with defective powdered metal during manufacturing. Not ideal.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian confirmed they’ve imported a “very small” number of new engines this way — and while he didn’t give an exact figure, he hinted the airline plans to keep doing it to keep costs down.

Smart workaround? A little scrappy? Either way, it’s one of the more creative solutions to an import tax we’ve seen in a while.

[Blobby]

Gotta respect the hustle. Who knew engine-swapping would become the new import tax loophole? It’s like playing Lego with $100 million jets. Whatever works, I guess!

[alex65]

Honestly, this is pretty smart. Instead of paying millions in tariffs, Delta found a legal workaround that keeps planes flying and costs down. It’s a good example of creative problem-solving in a highly regulated industry

[EmTeam]

This is such an interesting case of supply chain agility. Swapping engines like this is definitely unconventional, but given the certification delays and tariff pressures, it makes a lot of sense. Curious to see if other airlines adopt similar strategies.

[Jibon_RX]

That’s actually genius from Delta. Swapping engines to dodge import taxes and get grounded jets back in the air? Smart logistics move with real financial impact. Love seeing this kind of adaptability.

[Smith]

Honestly, this is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that makes a company stand out. Regulatory hurdles, supply issues, import tariffs — and yet Delta finds a workaround that keeps them moving. Respect.

[Dave]

Wow, this feels like a masterclass in operational flexibility. Instead of waiting around or losing money, Delta took action. It’s unconventional but efficient — and probably just the beginning for strategies like this.