Delta Air Lines has announced an interior cabin refresh. They’re tying this to their 100 year anniversary, presenting a new more modern image. The palette is darker. They won’t swap out seats, just add memory foam padding to some seats. And they’re adding new lighting. Naturally this is pitched as being “premium” and a new interior, to most passengers, feels like new planes.
Key Design Elements
Delta’s new cabin interiors are characterized by deeper shades of blue and grey, with red accents. Royal blue leather seats will be replaced by a darker navy blue, complemented by grey stitching and red trim throughout all classes.
Delta is also rolling decorative motifs like the “Infinite Grid” and “Celestial Sky” patterns that will adorn bulkheads, dividers, and lavatories.
Lighting and Ambiance
Delta’s cabin refresh includes mood lighting designed for various phases—boarding, dining, and sleeping-shifting through warm tones for boarding and meals, while a “sunset glow” is meant to ease passengers into rest during overnight flights. As dawn approaches, the cabin lighting will gradually brighten.
Credit: Delta
Lavatories will be refreshed with bright walls, the signature “Celestial Sky” pattern, and Azure Blue cabinets. Flooring will be updated to improve appearance of cleanliness and traction. The lavs are still tiny though!
Credit: Delta
Memory Foam and Seating Upgrades
Delta is not introducing new seats. Instead, memory foam cushions will be installed across some seats, from domestic first class to the long-haul economy.
Credit: Delta
Delta One business class seats, traditionally covered in leather, will instead see a wool-nylon blend which the airline says is better at temperature regulation.
Credit: Delta
Premium Select and domestic-style first-class cabins will also benefit from this memory foam change.
Credit: Delta
Timeline for Implementation
The first Boeing 757 with the refreshed cabin design is expected to begin flying domestic and short-haul international routes later this year.
Early next year, the updated interior will make its debut on an Airbus A350 serving long-haul international routes.
Beyond that, Delta has not provided a detailed timeline for retrofitting the rest of its fleet, except to say they will do it gradually and over a period of years, subject to delays for operational needs (they don’t want a bunch of aircrafts out of service for this).
Lipstick On A Pig?
Darker tones and modern design do seem sleek and elegant, but also lack the distinctiveness that previously set Delta apart – seemingly generic in appearance along the lines of Air Canada and Air France cabins.
Is the new color scheme better than the current blue?
It’s far from clear how memory foam and breathable fabrics will translate into comfort. You may see this as a new investment in the product, but it’s also a cheaper approach compared to actually replacing seats. No matter how many times Delta repeats the word ‘premium’ in its marketing of this refresh that will take many years, any issues with service, wifi and inflight meals remain.
Ultimately I’ll have to see it in person, and sit in the seats for several hours, to have a fully-developed opinion of what the airline announced today.
“honestly, I am not interested in a forever relationship… don’t even want the number of interactions we do have…”
you wouldn’t. You get owned in all of them and have no idea how to respond to anything data-based. No surprise, “Tim”
Have you figured out your new fake username yet?
“I do enjoy rational interactions with those capable of doing the same.”
Too bad you’re banned from most websites where that takes place, huh?
“I do hope you are back here when Gary provides a cabin refresh product thread…”
me too. I can’t wait to see how you defend the Delta 717 lack of AVOD, the 738 nonsense, or how Delta keeps their lackluster non-kodiak first class bulkhead nonsense in every refresh across the fleet.
You must really enjoy how Spirit, Frontier, and Delta are the only US airbus operators that utilized two Lavs in the back of the plane next to the galley. weirdly, no other US3 carrier does that except the ULCCs and Delta. enjoy your defense. You really shouldn’t make your default Delta choices. You’re setting yourself up for failure. 😉
holy cow… you stoop to new lows every day.
The lav is not for living in…. if people can succeed at doing what they have to do, then put more real estate where passengers spend the most time and give the rest to passengers.
btw, DL has the Airbus SpaceFlex lav concept on its A321CEOs and 319s/320s but not its NEOs.
DL is smart enough to figure out where and when to use that concept.
And you do realize that Boeing’s tiny 737/MAX lavs – esp. the sink – are far more hated that the Airbus SpaceFlex lav. Why is it that Airbus manages to do so much better than Boeing – including actually delivering the aircraft.
Did you miss that United will only increase its fleet by just 41 aircraft this year…. they were expecting over 100 more new aircraft in 2024 not that long ago.
How nice of you to reply with info rather than your usual insults
“Boeing’s tiny 737/MAX lavs – esp. the sink are far more hated that the Airbus SpaceFlex lav. ” Delta’s order for 100 Max10 should be devastating news for you. And I’m actually curious what survey you’re referencing here to make this statement 😉 Are you taking surveys about aircraft Lavs these days?
“Did you miss that United will only increase its fleet by just 41 aircraft this year…. they were expecting over 100 more new aircraft in 2024 not that long ago.”
Wow! Boeing is having issues? This is such news! (sarcasm) Good thing they have 78 coming next year and 14 NEOs in the 4th quarter . I guess that’s a relief to you? What about Delta’s 100 unconverted Max10 order? Were we talking about United and their order book? Not another new topic for you….?
“holy cow… you stoop to new lows every day.” Do you even read what you write to others? lol
This is kind of disappointing. Had I not heard about it, I’d say their Delta One customers wouldn’t have minded them leaving the seats alone.
Nothing matters to me until you make the seats bigger!
So many angry bitter people leaving comments. They must lead miserable lives.
Travelled Delta Comfort+ from SFO to JFK last month. Your comment about lipstick hit home as their product is truly a pig. Uncomfortable seat, no footrest, limited recline and everything dirty. Service awful with rude and surly attendants serving a snack only on a transcontinental flight. US airlines could learn a lot from European airlines as their economy offering is better than US premium economy. Never again if I have any choice.