Delta Air Lines is continues to push it’s upgraded Boeing 777 programme, with ticket sales launched for six routes that will feature the fully branded Delta experience and refitted products aboard them.
The six routes will cover certain transpacific and transatlantic routes, based out of Minneapolis-St Paul, Atlanta and Los Angeles.
They are (with the date the equipment is meant to go live on)
- Minneapolis-St. Paul – Tokyo-Haneda – Commences 1st March 2019
- Atlanta – Tokyo-Narita – Commences 1st March 2019
- Minneapolis-St. Paul – Paris CDG – Commences 1st March 2019
- Atlanta (ATL) – Paris CDG – Commences 1st March 2019
- Minneapolis-St. Paul – Seoul – Commences 1st April 2019
- Los Angeles – Sydney – Commences 5th April 2019
The planes will feature what Delta calls a four-class cabin, made up of
- Delta One – their full flat business product based on the Thompson Vantage XL seat with a door in it for privacy
- Delta Premium Select – the airlines Premium Economy Experience (eight abreast seating with an 18.5″ seat width in a 2-4-2 formation)
- Delta Comfort+ – the extra-space economy product (nine abreast seating in a 3-3-3 formation)
- Delta Main Cabin – the standard economy product that will retain a nine abreast seat layout at the back of the plane in a 3-3-3 formation)
According to the airline, Delta Comfort+ will be added to the four 777s already modified and the remaining 14 777s will embark on their four-seat product transformation in 2019.
The planes will feature Gogo 2Ku connectivity onboard, as well as a fitted Panasonic in-flight entertainment system installed. Free mobile messaging will also be offered on these fights.
Delta bucks the density trend, create premium options
Whilst a lot of airlines have chosen to go down the path of ten-across seating in the back of the plane, it seems Delta is being stalwarts of the nine-across layout, and are hoping the increased premium options will attract passengers.
And it’s great to see one airline sticking with a lower density at the back of the plane to improve passenger comfort – time in 17″ width seats vs 18″ width seats can improve the passenger experience.
Whilst it seems airlines are some moving away from the traditional three-class model on long-haul routes (First Class, Business Class and Economy class), others are now filling the gaps in-between at the expense of removing a first class product that may be little used.
And maybe those fill-in classes like Extra-Space economy and Premium Economy are the way for some airlines to get up-sell and create the opportunity for income, whilst giving passengers a sense of comfort on a plane.
Images – Delta Air Lines
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What’s the second MSP destination?
Paris CDG. Apologies – added to the article now