Delta Air Lines has announced plans to invest more than US$770 million between now and 2016 to refresh the interiors on its Boeing 757-200, 737-800, Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft to provide power at every seat, add new slim-line seats with adjustable headrests, update the lavatories, add more efficient galleys, and create additional features to improve passenger comfort.
“We’re continuing to make smart long-term investments in our products and services to meet the expectations of our customers,” said Glen Hauenstein, executive VP and chief revenue officer at the airline. “In just six years, we will have made updated to interiors throughout Delta’s fleet giving customers improved comfort and more options to work or relax and be entertained.”
This latest capital investment is intended to improve the service consistency provided to Delta’s customers in first class and economy, as well as increasing aircraft efficiency and overall customer satisfaction of the airline’s domestic narrowbody fleet.
The investment is in line with Delta’s multi-year focus on passenger comfort that began in 2010. All Delta international widebody aircraft will include fully flat bed seats with direct-aisle access in BusinessElite by mid-2014 and all transcontinental flights will have full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite by summer 2015.
B757-200 aircraft improvements
Delta’s modifications to 56 of its 757-200 aircraft will include installing in-seat video, satellite TV and access to power for every passenger, along with new galleys, updated LED cabin lighting, new lavatory designs, as well as larger capacity overhead bins. Delta will be the first carrier in North America to install the new bin system, which will increase passenger carry-on baggage capacity by more than 50%.
The 49 modified domestic aircraft will feature a layout of 20 first class seats, 29 premium economy seats and 150 economy seats. The remaining seven B757-200 international aircraft will have a configuration of 18 first class seats, 28 premium economy seats and 151 economy seats.
B737-800 improvements
The investment in 43 of Delta’s 737-800 aircraft will include the addition of in-seat video with satellite TV, new LED cabin lighting and updated lavatories. The aircraft will be configured with 16 first class seats, 18 premium economy seats and 126 economy seats. When the modifications are complete, Delta’s entire fleet of 73 B737-800 aircraft will have in-seat video with access to satellite TV and in-seat power throughout the aircraft.
A319 and A320 improvements
Delta’s 57 A319 and 69 A320 aircraft will receive complete interior updates including new seats in both first class and economy, with in-seat power throughout the aircraft. The aircraft will also receive new space-saving galleys, new lavatories, new larger-capacity overhead bins with an average increase of 60% more carry-on baggage space, updated LED lighting systems and new cabin interiors. Updates to the A319 fleet will also include the installation of in-seat video with satellite TV.
The A319 will include 12 seats in first class and the A320 will have 16 first class seats. All economy seats on both aircraft types will feature wider seats with an increase from the current 17.2in to 18in for each seat. Both fleets will have 18 premium economy seats with 34in of pitch. Economy seats will each have 31in of pitch on both aircraft, with 102 seats on the A319 and 126 seats on the A320.
