This Airbus A350-900 is Delta’s first aircraft to debut the airline’s newly redesigned interiors. USA TODAY was invited to Delta TechOps in Atlanta to preview the new look.

By Eve Chen-USA TODAY

Many of the changes are subtle but elevated and ergonomic. The plane still feels very Delta. Dots on new blue wallsthe back were inspired by Delta’s route maps.. Ekrem Dimbiloglu, managing director of Delta’s onboard strategy and experience, points out new non-textile floorin. Raised dots add slip resistance in busy areas like galleys.

Finding just the right carpet wasn’t easy. Michael Steinfeld, manager of Onboard Product at Delta, said they put this new one through the ringer, pouring everything from red wine to Biscoff cookie crumbs onto it during testing. It’s made with twisted yarn for durability.
New lighting settings include calming blues and warm amber hues, like this cruise mode. Every seat onboard is made with memory foam cushions. To test for comfort, Delta team members sat in each seat configuration for the equivalent length of the aircraft’s longest flight.
Seat coverings in Delta One, Delta’s version of first class, have been replaced with cloth for comfort and breathability, particularly for sleeping, as the seats lie flat. Newly redesigned Delta One suites feature more pops of red. Delta’s Ekrem Dimbiloglu said. “We’ve used red sparingly, but we’ve used red to really denote kind of premium in its nature.”

Wireless charging has also been added to Delta One suites, in addition a traditional and USB-C outlets. three-dimensional Delta widget in the Delta One cabin is perfectly placed for selfies. New recyclable cups, displayed in the Delta One galley, are already in service on Delta’s international flights and will soon debut domestically.

A shallower, secondary seatback pocket has been added in Premium Select, Comfort+ and Main Cabin. The pockets are just the right size for phones and intentionally located near charging ports. Delta’s Premium Select cabins are comparable to business class. Delta’s Premium Select cabins are comparable to business class.

A new feature already available across Delta’s fleet is a new accessibility mode for its digital route maps. The larger fonts, less busy text, and grayscale graphics were designed for people with low vision, but Delta says other passengers have benefitted as well.

A small tab depicting a wing has been added to crew seats. It’s a nod to the wings Delta flight attendants recieve. “Our customers are absolutely not going to notice that that’s there. But you know who is going to notice is all 28,000+ of our flight attendants,” said Delta’s Ekrem Dimbiloglu. Crew cabin bunks also feature memory foam mattresses. Even though that’s something passengers won’t see, Delta’s Ekrem Dimbiloglu says having a well-rested crew benefits passengers indirectly.

New aircraft will be built with the redesigned interiors. Updates to the rest of the fleet will take longer and roll out over time.
Share.
Leave A Reply

Exit mobile version