August 16, 2016 – Things are really hotting up in the US business class arena. Following June’s reveal of United’s Polaris business class product, Delta has today revealed its new Delta One business class suite, to be introduced in Fall 2017 on its Airbus A350 fleet.
When we say ‘suite’, we mean just that, as each of the 32 Delta One passengers on these A350s will be accessing their seats – directly from the aisle – via a sliding door. These spaces will be highly private, but for couples flying together, sliding privacy dividers between the center suites will enable more options for a sociable experience.
Delta is billing this product as “the world’s first all-suite business class”, which will fly on the first US carrier A350, and the suite is a heavily customized version of Thompson Aero Seating’s Vantage XL platform, fettled by the Factorydesign studio in London.
Above: The Delta One suite is a landmark seating product. JetBlue created a similar buzz when it launched its Mint business class in 2014, which saw four of the 12 business class seats on its A321s offered as private suites, complete with sliding doors. The products have more in common than a door though: both are designed with FactoryDesign and based on Thompson seating platforms
We will have further details of the Delta One suite shortly, but for now we can confirm the seats have lie-flat beds, 18in HD IFE displays, in-suite ambient lighting, memory foam-enhanced comfort cushions, in-seat USB and power ports, and dedicated stowage compartments for shoes, headphones and laptops.
“Everything on the seat was customized,” explained Ryan Graham, a senior designer at Factorydesign, adding that the ability to add doors was driven by the A350’s generous cabin width.
“After setting the standard with the introduction of full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in 2008, Delta is again elevating the international business class experience,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Added comfort and privacy are important to business travelers, and that drove the design of the all-new Delta One suite.”
Delta completed installation of full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access on all of its widebody aircraft operating long-haul international flights in 2014. Following the A350 debut, the Delta One suite will progressively roll out on Delta’s Boeing 777 fleet.
Below: The Delta One service includes Westin Heavenly bedding, pyjamas, chef-curated meals, wine pairings by Delta’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, noise-canceling headsets, and TUMI amenity kits featuring Kiehl’s Since 1851 premium skincare
