Hey FT peeps...it's been a while since we posted a comprehensive update covering the fleet upgrades so wanted to provide some detail around our ongoing investments.
And while we’ve announced most of these already, I thought now would be a good opportunity to highlight all of the product improvements across the fleet in one summary.
Questions? Comments? Let's hear 'em!
B737-900ER
The first 12 of 100 737-900ERs will enter service in the fourth quarter of 2013 and will offer all passengers a great flying experience. The cabin is divided into 20 First Class seats at 37” pitch, 21 Economy Comfort seats at 34” pitch and 139 Economy seats averaging 31” pitch. The first thing you’ll notice is the bright and modern Boeing Sky Interior (BSI) and the enhanced mood lighting. Boeing really did a fantastic job with the interior design and we’re excited to introduce the BSI to Delta customers.
In First Class, we’ve redesigned the seats to be more comfortable by adding extra layers of foam padding and fuller side bolsters. The leather seat cover has been enhanced with new stitch lines reminiscent of the seats in luxury automobiles. The four-way adjustable headrest now features additional foam padding and is contoured to cradle your neck. Even the seatback pockets have been thoughtfully designed. You’ll notice the pockets for literature and the safety card have been moved up to maximize available knee clearance.
Just above the seat pockets you’ll find a high resolution 11” monitor integrated into the seat along with a USB power port and headphone jack. The monitor is big. Really big. Standard power outlets for each passenger are in the armrest – in direct view and easily accessible (no more fumbling around under your seat searching for the outlet). The entertainment library will offer more than 1,000 choices on demand, including 300+ films, hundreds of hours of HBO, Showtime and television content, thousands of songs, a selection of games and 18 channels of live satellite TV by Dish.
The 21 Economy Comfort and 139 Economy seats are the same comfortable model (B/E Aerospace Pinnacle) we’re installing on the A330 and 757-300 fleets. This seat offers an articulating seat pan for additional knee clearance and we’ve added extra foam padding for more comfort and a winged, four-way adjustable headrest. Each seat also features a sleek, integrated high resolution 9” monitor with USB power available at every seat. Standard power outlets to charge your laptop or tablet are also available at every seat, in direct view and easily accessible. The entertainment library mirrors what’s available in First Class and includes complimentary satellite TV and a huge music library. Films, premium content from HBO and Showtime, along with TV episodes and games will be available for purchase.
B747-400
Arguably the best looking commercial airliner ever designed, Delta’s 747 fleet now looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. We’ve installed 48 flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in a 1-1-1 and 1-2-1 layout on the main deck and a 1-1 layout upstairs. And with just 14 seats, the upper deck experience really is fantastic. The 42 Economy Comfort seats feature a high resolution 9” monitor, USB power and standard power ports. The 286 Economy seats feature the same 9” monitors and USB ports. All passengers will have access to a library of 1,000+ on demand entertainment choices.
Of the U.S. carriers operating 747s, only Delta’s 747 fleet offers personal entertainment at every seat. It’s really a necessity on those ultra-long haul flights of 14+ hours.
B757-300
The cabin is divided into 24 First Class seats at 37” pitch, 25 Economy Comfort seats at 34” pitch and 185 Economy seats averaging 31” pitch. What’s interesting about this mod is that even though we’re adding 10 Economy seats, we’re increasing average pitch in Economy. The extra pitch combined with new, slimmer B/E Aerospace Pinnacle seats, will provide our customers with a more comfortable experience.
As far as what the cabin will look like…the 757-300 will feature the same interior enhancements as the 737-900ER sans the Boeing Sky Interior. ..new seats, AVOD + Satellite TV, power at every seat, and upgraded interior finishes. Modifications begin at the end of 2013 and will continue through 2014.
B767-300
We added six First Class seats to our fleet of domestic 767s in 2011, furthering our goal of providing more First Class seats than any other carrier. More seats mean our best customers have a better chance for an upgrade.
B767-300ER (76L Standard Configuration)
We’re installing 36 flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout. Each BusinessElite seat features a 10.6” monitor, power port and a large side console. The 32 Economy Comfort seats feature a high resolution 9” monitor, USB power and standard power ports. The 143 Economy seats feature the same 9” monitors and USB ports. All passengers will have access to a library of 1,000+ on demand entertainment choices. The Economy seats feature an articulating seat pan for additional knee clearance and we’ve added extra foam padding for more comfort and a winged, four-way adjustable headrest.
B767-300ER (76Z High Density Configuration)
We’re installing 26 flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout. Each BusinessElite seat features a 10.6” monitor, power port and a large side console. The 29 Economy Comfort seats feature a high resolution 9” monitor, USB power and standard power ports. The 171 Economy seats feature the same 9” monitors and USB ports. All passengers will have access to a library of 1,000+ on demand entertainment choices. The Economy seats feature an articulating seat pan for additional knee clearance and we’ve added extra foam padding for more comfort and a winged, four-way adjustable headrest.
A330
We’re installing 34 flat-bed seats with direct aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout. Each BusinessElite seat features a 15.4” monitor, power port and a large side console. The Economy Comfort seats feature a high resolution 9” monitor, USB power and standard power ports. The Economy seats feature the same 9” monitors and USB ports. All passengers will have access to a library of 1,000+ on demand entertainment choices. The Economy seats feature an articulating seat pan for additional knee clearance and we’ve added extra foam padding for more comfort and a winged, four-way adjustable headrest.
MD88
We completed the cabin reconfiguration this summer, adding two additional First Class seats, five Economy seats and standard power outlets to all 16 First Class seats across the fleet of 117 aircraft.
MD90
We’ll begin installing standard power ports in First Class on this fleet starting in early 2013.
B717-200
We’re adding 88 717s to the fleet with first deliveries arriving during the third quarter of 2013. The interiors will be upgraded to the Delta standard with the same First Class seats as the 737-900ER and 757-300. Economy Comfort and Economy will feature a slim line seat with articulating seat pan (for additional knee clearance), four-way adjustable winged headrests and standard power outlets available at every seat. Because these aircraft will operate short missions, AVOD will not be installed. However Wi-Fi and wireless entertainment on demand will be available.
CRJ700/900 & E170/175
We added First Class, Economy Comfort and Wi-Fi to the fleet of 255 large regional jets. Wireless entertainment on demand is coming in 2013.
Wi-Fi
Delta has been a leader in offering Wi-Fi across all two-class domestic aircraft – including 255 large regional jets. While some airlines are just getting started with Wi-Fi installations and still have only a handful of planes (or none at all) installed, Delta has more than 800 planes flying with Wi-Fi.
Flying across the ocean shouldn’t limit your ability to post to Facebook, so we also recently announced that installation of high speed satellite Wi-Fi on the international fleet will begin in early 2013; our first aircraft will be a 767-300ER. The entire fleet is scheduled for completion by 2015.
Some of you may be wondering why it will take so long to install Wi-Fi on the international fleet. Because the domestic fleet uses air-to-ground technology and small blade antennas, each installation was completed on an overnight visit. However, satellite-based Wi-Fi requires a large satellite antenna and radome, and significant structural work to the fuselage. As a result, each plane will take several days to install.
And finally, because so many of our customers are using Wi-Fi and the need for speed is key, we are in the midst of upgrading the existing air-to-ground system to Gogo’s next generation ATG-4 platform, which will offer additional bandwidth and a better browsing experience across the entire domestic fleet.
Wireless Entertainment on Demand
This is a product that will soon be available on every Delta plane with Wi-Fi. In short, you’ll be able to wirelessly stream movies and TV shows directly to your laptop or tablet while you’re in flight. And if you don’t get a chance to watch the whole movie, don’t fret. You can watch it on the ground for up to 24 hours after your flight anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi connection.
This is a separate service from the Wi-Fi and has no impact on the speed or bandwidth available to customers using Wi-Fi and purchasing a Wi-Fi session is not required to view content. A large library of movies and TV will be available for rent with prices starting at .99 cents. This will be a really nice choice to have for customers on flights that don’t feature IFE.
New IFE Graphical User Interface
We’re just about finished with the rollout of the new Delta on Demand user interface. It’s a huge improvement in the way content is organized and was designed to have a similar look to our other digital channels – delta.com, airport kiosks and the Delta app. We are aware that there are some technical issues and I want to assure everyone that we have a team from Panasonic, CoKinetic Systems and Delta working on all the issues. If you’re flying and notice something not quite right with the IFE system, please let us know by sending a note to
[email protected].
LCD screens on 757-200 Fleet with Overhead Video Systems
This is a project that is just finishing up. The old CRT monitors are being removed from 62 757s and replaced with 15” flat screen LCD monitors. I know…it’s not as exciting as a new AVOD system, but it definitely makes the viewing experience on these aircraft better for our customers.
Miscellaneous Interior Enhancements
In 2013 you’ll start to notice a new carpet color that’s a darker, richer shade of blue. New leather seat covers with extra padding and a new design (that first appeared on domestic Economy Comfort seats) will begin rolling out across the A330, 717-200, 737-900ER and 757-300 fleets.
We’re also introducing a new laminate design on the aft-facing vertical surfaces. This will mimic the design seen on the Delta Sky Club backwalls behind the check-in counters in our new and renovated clubs. We’ll be adding a 3D DELTA logo to the interior of all mainline aircraft to reinforce our brand.