Delta Air Lines will be upgrading two of its long-haul workhorses:
The Boeing 767-300ER and the Airbus A330. These types are set to undergo retrofits
to receive a proper premium economy product. But while the planes will get the new cabin,
Delta appears to be keeping the Delta One cabin intact, leaving passengers
with a fresh new premium economy cabin with somewhat dated, older business class cabins.
Delta has revealed a new Boeing 767-300ER seat map on its website. The new jet
will have the following configuration: 26 Delta One lie-flat business class seats
18 recliner-style Premium Select (premium economy) seats
21 Delta Comfort+ (extra-legroom economy) seats and
151 standard economy seats In addition to aircraft having inflight WiFi,
all seats will have power outlets and seatback entertainment.When compared to the older version,
Comfort+ will lose 14 seats, and economy 14 seats. These cuts to extra-legroom economy
will make it harder for loyalty-status holders to get a complimentary upgrade.
Despite the cabin refits, the airline will seemingly
not be touching any of the seats in Delta One. The 767-300ERs feature a lie-flat, forward-facing,
staggered business class product. On these planes, privacy is almost nonexistent. Indeed for many
travelers, the seats might be starting to feel quite dated when compared to other products.
As mentioned, Delta will also be retrofitting its Airbus A330s with a premium economy product.
While a seat map has not been revealed for the refreshed A330s,
these planes will likely see premium economy in a 2-3-2 configuration,
which is how the airline sets the cabin up on its newer A330-900neos.
Again, it seems that Delta will not be touching the business class cabin on these jets.
The A330s feature a reverse herringbone configuration
which, while relatively comfortable, is also starting to feel dated and could use an upgrade.
Currently, only two Delta jets feature the airline’s top-notch business class product,
the Delta One Suite. Those are the Airbus A330-900neos and the Airbus A350-900s.
The jets were previously also on the Boeing 777s, although Delta has retired the jets.
The airline had hinted that it would be adding premium select to the Airbus A330s
in the announcement of its new Portland to Seoul route. Boeing 767 retrofits will begin this month,
while Airbus A330 retrofits will begin in July. The Boeing 767-300ERs will be retired in around
four years, so it makes sense that Delta is not wanting to retrofit the jets with a new business
class cabin. The modified Delta One seat on the Boeing 767-400ERs take up some more real estate
than the current 767 product, reducing capacity. As for the old Airbus A330s, Delta has not
announced retirement plans, with those widebodies having years left on them. Not touching the
business class cabin on those aircraft is a strange decision that likely comes down to the
carrier wanting to keep costs on the retrofit low. As such, product inconsistency will continue to
be an issue in business class with the A330ceos having a reverse herringbone
Delta One seat and the 767-300ERs having forward-facing lie-flat seats.
Meanwhile, the 767-400ERs will have an impressive and updated business class cabin,
while the A330neos and A350-900s will have the Delta One Suites.
What do you think of Delta’s 767 and A330 cabin retrofits?
And have you flown with Delta lately? Share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment.