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Atlanta based Delta Air Lines has become the first and only U.S. carrier to offer full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access on all its international wide-body flights.
The airline announced it has completed the installation of full flat-bed seats in its BusinessElite class on its Airbus A330-200/300, Boeing 767-300ER/400ER, 747-400, and 777-200ER/LR aircraft used on long-haul international flights.
The upgrade represents Delta’s largest interior fleet modification investment in more than a decade. As part of its upgrades Delta also has:
- Launched international Wi-Fi service and completed the installation of Wi-Fi on over 870 aircraft including all domestic, two-class mainline and regional jets
- Started offering Westin Heavenly In-Flight bedding for customers in the BusinessElite cabin.
- Updated BusinessElite amenity kits with stylish cases from Tumi and skincare product brand Malin+Goetz.
- Built a team of celebrity chefs and James Beard Award winners to offer gorumet in-flight meals.
- Introduced sleep kits and new amenities for its economy class customers on transoceanic flights.
From July 1, Delta will commence full flat-bed service on its Boeing 757 transcontinental services between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. These three aircraft will be joined with other aircraft so that all transcontinental services between New York-JFK and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle will feature full flat-bed seats by summer 2015.
It is very refreshing to see Delta starting to compete in first and business traffic on its international flights. On my last flight on Delta to Amsterdam and back I had a chance to peak at the new seats, very impressive. However, the back end of the aircraft was unfortunately in dire need of refurbishment, the seats were uncomfortable and a few of the in seat video screens frames were out of place by the end of the flight. Of course economy class travel amenities were not there yet. What Delta has to work on is not only the physical aspect of the aircraft but the level of on board service offered. The service offered lags behind the Gulf carriers or even othe US carriers. For some reason the cabin crew unlike their ground staff or flight crew don’t seem to smile or care.
The youngest 767 of Delta is 13 years old and youngest 747 of Delta is 12 years old. I hope they stop flying these old planes outside USA. There is no way they will be competitive with the airlines from Middle East and Asia.