Delta’s Boeing 737-800s Get Premium Cabin Makeover, New First Class Seats
The carrier is upgrading some of its 22-year-old 737s and adding eight more Delta One lie-flat seats to its Airbus A350-900s
Photo: First Class, Boeing 737-800. Courtesy of Delta
Delta Air Lines has begun upgrading the interior cabins of select Boeing 737-800 aircraft to enhance the travel experience for passengers.
The Atlanta-based carrier will introduce new interiors to these planes this month, featuring Delta’s latest First Class seats that can be found on the airline’s brand-new Airbus A321neos.
Photo: First Class, Airbus A321neo. Courtesy of Delta
The new seats will offer First Class passengers additional privacy, expanded storage space, a stronger tray table, and increased comfort.
It’s not just premium passengers that will enjoy the upgrades, however, as Delta is also refreshing its Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabins on the same select aircraft.
The new cabins will include an updated in-flight entertainment (IFE) system with 10-inch Panasonic screens, while even the lavatories are getting an update with new touchless features.
Photo: Main Cabin, Boeing 737-800. Courtesy of Delta
According to Jason Rabinowitz, an aviation expert with Runway Girl Network, Delta’s new planes will receive a lavatory refresh with the installation of touchless features. However, unlike refurbishing its Airbus narrowbody fleet, Delta has no plans to install higher capacity overhead bins or new passenger service units on the 737-800s.
On the outside of the plane, however, Delta is attempting to enhance the fuel efficiency of its 737-800 aircraft by installing split-scimitar winglets that the airline claims will help to save almost 3.3 million gallons of fuel each year.
Photo: Boeing 737-800. Courtesy of Delta
“Delta is committed to creating a consistent and elevated customer experience across all touchpoints of the travel journey, which includes offering the best products for our customers while in-flight,” said Mauricio Parise, Vice President of Brand Experience at Delta.
“Enhancing our aircraft interiors with select retrofits will give customers more premium options to choose from.”
Delta currently operates a fleet of 77 Boeing 737-800s, averaging 22 years of age. It is unclear how many of these aircraft will receive the cabin upgrade.
Airbus A350 Upgrades
However, in addition to enhanced interiors on its 737-800s, Delta is expanding the Delta One cabin on its Airbus A350-900s by adding eight extra lie-flat seats on each aircraft.
The new interiors are expected to enter service this summer, and once upgraded, Delta’s A350-900s will include a total of 40 Delta One Suites, along with 40 Delta Premium Select seats, 36 Delta Comfort+ seats with extra legroom, and 159 seats in the Main Cabin.
Photo: Airbus A350-900, Delta One. Courtesy of Delta
Both of these aircraft interior upgrades are part of Delta’s wider strategy of enhancing the in-flight experience for its customers and delivering on its commitment to offer a range of ‘best-in-class’ products.
The airline has made similar retrofits to other aircraft in recent years, including refreshing the interiors of its Boeing 767-400ER from nose to tail to accommodate the addition of Delta Premium Select cabins.
Delta also said that it will soon be upgrading cabins on its Boeing 757 and other widebody aircraft, although no dates or further details have been confirmed.
