Delta Air Lines is to roll out fully flat-bed seats in Business and First Class on international flights over the next three years.
The move is part of a US$1billion premium-product enhancement. The carrier’s CEO Richard Anderson attributed this to customer demand: “Our premium travellers tell us that the comfort of a flat-bed seat with direct aisle access, a first-class experience on regional jets and in-flight entertainment are important factors in their choice of carrier.”
The renewal will be conducted through mid-2013, and involves installing fully flat-bed seats in BusinessElite (Delta’s Business Class) on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft: 14 B767-400ERs, 52 B767-300ERs, 16 B747-400s and eight B777-200ERs.
Passengers can expect these other improvements:
• In-seat AVOD throughout Economy Class on 16 B747-400 and 52 B767-300ER aircraft
• First Class cabins to be installed on 66 CRJ-700 aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers ASA, Comair and SkyWest, bringing to 219 the number of regional aircraft with First Class seating
• Completing the modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest aircraft to feature Delta’s signature blue leather seats, updated lighting and enhanced cabin amenities such as increased overhead bin space on pre-merger Northwest 757-200s.
• Installing winglets on more than 170 B767-300ER, B757-200 and B737-800 aircraft to extend aircraft range and improve fuel efficiency by as much as five percent
• Renovation and expansion of Delta’s Los Angeles Sky Club lounge and launch of new Sky Clubs in Seattle, Philadelphia and Indianapolis
Delta Airlines joins the growing circle of airlines, including United Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Emirates, offering fully lie-flat seats in their premium sections.
In another development, Air New Zealand announced it would introduce a "lie-flat" bed in Economy Class in its forthcoming fleet of B777-300ERs (see news)
For more information, visit www.delta.com
Julian Tan
