Delta’s newest wide-body aircraft, the Airbus A330-900neo, began operations on Wednesday, with flight DL589 flying from Seattle to Shanghai.
The US carrier had said the launch of the aircraft on this route would be delayed until July 15, but it appears to have managed to get the aircraft into service five days earlier. The route was previously operated by a B767-300ER.
The A330-900neo is also set to serve the carrier’s Seattle-Seoul Incheon and Seattle-Tokyo Narita service, but the aircraft’s entry into service on those routes has been delayed until October 1 and October 27, respectively, as Delta previously announced.
Delta said the aircraft launch nearly doubles the premium seat offerings from Seattle to “top Asian markets” and is “the latest in a series of investments Delta has made as it marks the five-year anniversary of its Sea-Tac [Seattle–Tacoma International Airport] hub”.
“We’re transforming the airline customer experience on a global scale and this new aircraft is the latest example of our commitment to our international customers,” said Steve Sear, Delta’s president – international and EVP – global sales.
“This state-of-the-art aircraft will provide the latest amenities, entertainment and technology to our customers as they journey to destinations worldwide on Delta’s expanding global network.”
Delta will add a total of 35 A330-900neos to its fleet, featuring the latest-generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines that produce a 25 percent lower fuel burn than previous generation aircraft. Delta expects to take delivery of 80 new aircraft in 2019, driving a two per cent improvement in fuel efficiency. The airline said it will continue to improve fuel efficiency with orders that replace about 35 per cent of its mainline fleet by 2023 with new, more fuel-efficient aircraft.
Delta said this is the first new wide-body delivery to feature all four “Delta seat experiences”, including:
- Delta One Suite (29 seats): The Delta One Suites, featuring a full-height door at every suite, a fully flat-bed seat with direct aisle access, as well as more stowage for personal items, larger in-flight entertainment screens and memory foam enhanced comfort cushions. Using customer feedback, the Delta One suites on the A330-900neo have been redesigned to allow for a larger workspace and more stowage. Business Traveller has reviewed the Delta One Suite on the airline’s A330-200, a shorter variant of the A330-300, here.
- Main Cabin (168 seats): Featuring up to 33 inches of pitch and up to four inches of recline, seating also includes foam memory cushions and complimentary seat-back screen entertainment.
- Delta Premium Select (28 seats): Delta Premium Select offers up to 38 inches of pitch, seat width of 18.5 inches, up to seven inches of recline, adjustable leg and head rests and water bottle stowage. Delta said customers will arrive well-rested thanks to additional space, dedicated service and amenity kits with “all the travel essentials needed to settle in”.
- Delta Comfort+ (56 seats): An “enhanced seating option” that features 34 inches of pitch, up to five inches of recline, dedicated overhead bin space and placement just in front of the Main Cabin.
- Main Cabin (168 seats): Featuring up to 33 inches of pitch and up to four inches of recline, seating also includes foam memory cushions and complimentary seat-back screen entertainment.
The aircraft is the first Delta wide-body to feature the new wireless IFE system developed by Delta Flight Products, the airline’s wholly owned cabin interior start-up. It is equipped with high-speed 2Ku internet connectivity and customers will have access to free mobile messaging while on board through iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Customers throughout the aircraft will also enjoy a new bistro-style main cabin experience launching this November.