update: Delta has brand-new Airbus A321neo delivered via Schiphol to avoid import tariffs
On August 20, 2025 a brand-new Delta Air Lines A321neo landed at Schiphol from Hamburg Finkenwerder. N594DA was delivered as flight DL9936. This is unusual because new aircraft from the Hamburg factory normally fly directly, with a fuel stop in Iceland, to the United States.
Delta is very likely choosing this route to avoid paying the 10% import tariffs on new aircraft.
In total six factory new A321neo aircraft will be temporary parked at Schiphol airport Hangar 9 area until a new trade agreement between the EU and US has been signed. At August 22 ship 5099 N599DA will be delivered from Hamburg to Schiphol.
Delta Air Lines has done this before with the delivery of new Airbus A350-900 aircraft. N528DN and N529DN were both flown from Toulouse to Tokyo Narita. The aircraft stayed in Tokyo for about two weeks before being deployed on scheduled flights. In 2022, Delta also used this method for A350 deliveries, with several flying from Toulouse to Tokyo first.
Another reason for Delta to sent the A350 to Tokyo is to get pre-service work there. The WiFi and Inflight Entertainment System is installed there.
The two weeks parking is to convince US customs the aircraft is not new. Likely Delta decided to not have Airbus install the IFE to save some extra money.
Delta did the same with the Airbus A330-900. The three aircraft delivered in 2025 (N434DX, N435DX, N436DX) were are delivered via Tokyo. Other aircraft in 2024 and before were delivered directly to the US. However in 2021 some aircraft were delivered via Tokyo.
This way, when the aircraft enters U.S. airspace for the first time, it is legally no longer considered new. According to Trump administration rules, the aircraft must first operate a commercial flight from a non-European country before it is no longer regarded as new.
Source
This is, incidentally, the first time that a Hamburg-built A321neo has not been delivered directly to the U.S. Previously, these aircraft made a stopover in Keflavik before continuing on delivery flights to Atlanta.
