Delta’s New “Loo With a View” Is Making Passengers Lose Their Minds

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Delta Air Lines’ new Airbus A220-100 aircraft, not the least of which are the high-capacity overhead storage bins, the extra wide seats (even in the economy cabin) and the individual power ports for each passenger, but it seems all anyone can talk about is the window in the lavatory.

Early next year, Delta Air Lines will be the first North American carrier to introduce the new Airbus A220-100 aircraft to its fleet. Inaugural flights are scheduled to launch between LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) as well as from LGA to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) on January 31st, but the impressive equipment is already creating a stir among air travelers.

“As we look back at our growth over the past 10 years since the Delta-Northwest merger, we reflect on the complementary strengths the two airlines brought to form a combined company that’s well positioned to continue leading the industry in decades to come,” Delta COO Gil West said at a recent Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) event offering a sneak peak of the just delivered plane. “In many ways, the A220 represents our continued work to make flying better for everyone and represents the go-forward objectives of our fleet strategy.”

According to the airline, the 109-seat jet will feature what is considered “among the widest seats of any narrow-body aircraft.” The brand new aircraft also has built-in passenger amenities that include extra-large windows, oversized overhead storage bins, advanced LED ambient lighting, 2Ku Wi-Fi, and next-gen, in-flight entertainment systems with spare power ports at each seat. The new planes will also have 20 percent better fuel economy than their predecessors and other similar class aircraft, thanks to a state-of-the-art Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan PW1500G power plant and a composite material constructed airframe.

However, it is one small detail of the cabin design that seems to have garnered the most attention from the flying public – the plane’s economy class lavatory has an exterior window. Social media has keyed in on this unique feature with some users desperate to “christen” the aircraft during one of the inaugural flights and others posting that the toilet-side window is “the single best feature” of the brand-new plane.

There are, of course, a few potential pitfalls to a lavatory with a view. It could encourage flyers to spend a bit too much time admiring the clouds (and perhaps not enough time paying attention to the business at hand). Although privacy isn’t likely to be a factor at 35,000 feet, passengers sharing a terminal with an Airbus A380 might want to consider pulling the shade down.