Delta Air Lines has plans to retrofit some of its more outdated wide body jets, though the exact details of what will be changing remains to be seen.
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Delta A330-300s will likely get new business class & more
As reported by @xJonNYC, Delta has plans to upgrade the interiors of its Airbus A330-300s, starting later in 2026. Delta has a rather varied (and outdated) wide body fleet. While the Airbus A350-900s and Airbus A330-900neos offer a pretty nice experience, the rest of the fleet is more of a mixed bag.
Delta has a fleet of 31 Airbus A330-300s, which are an average of around 16 years old. These planes don’t have the newest interiors, and in particular, have pretty outdated reverse herringbone seats in business class (which is marketed as Delta One).
While Delta hasn’t revealed exactly what will change about the interiors of these planes, I think it’s safe to assume that the aircraft will get new business class seats, especially since the jets are nowhere close to retirement. For what it’s worth, Delta reportedly doesn’t have any immediate plans to upgrade its Airbus A330-200s, which are even older, and are approaching an average age of 20 years.
These retrofits are expected to start shortly after Delta starts taking delivery of Airbus A350-1000s, which are going to be Delta’s new flagship aircraft.
Delta last updated the interiors of its A330-300s a few years back, when the airline added a premium economy cabin (marketed as Premium Select). For other cabins we also saw some mild refreshes, though no changes to the “bones” of seats.
What new business class product could Delta introduce?
As of now we can only speculate as to what kind of a new business class product Delta will introduce on its A330-300s. My assumption would be that at a minimum, Delta will install the same Delta One Suites you’ll find on the A330-900neo. This is essentially a customized version of the Vantage XL seat with doors.
Delta is also expected to introduce a new Delta One Suite on the A350-1000, better than the Delta One Suite on the A350-900. However, I wouldn’t necessarily assume that this would also be installed on the A330-300, since the narrower fuselage may limit the ability to introduce a similar cabin.
Bottom line
Delta intends to update the interiors of its fleet of 31 Airbus A330-300s. However, we’ll have to be patient, as this project won’t start until late 2026, and we also don’t know the full details. I’d assume the planes will at least get the Delta One Suites found on A330-900neos, and perhaps even something better than that. I look forward to learning more details.
What do you make of Delta’s plans to retrofit Airbus A330-300s?
My thoughts is the a330-300’s are getting old, RETIRE THEM and replace them with A330-900’s keep your fleet young, be a Wold Class Airline like your TRYING to be and stop grandstanding and pretending case in point THE VERY OLD B757’S/B767’S
Thar would be economic idiocy
as usual. jon repeats things that are known... I said that the 330CEOs were due for a refresh after the A350-900s.
The ex-Latam 359s are in for renewal now. People that make a big production about business class in the ex-latam 359s somehow have amnesia about the business class cabin on the 757s which is worse than the ex-Latam 359s. UA won't fix the 757s cabins... the A321NEOs will replace them.
The 330CEOs...
as usual. jon repeats things that are known... I said that the 330CEOs were due for a refresh after the A350-900s.
The ex-Latam 359s are in for renewal now. People that make a big production about business class in the ex-latam 359s somehow have amnesia about the business class cabin on the 757s which is worse than the ex-Latam 359s. UA won't fix the 757s cabins... the A321NEOs will replace them.
The 330CEOs have as competitive product as other carriers; the seat is one of the most common in the world.
One difference is that UA flies 757s only on thin leisure-oriented routes like AGP and OPO. DL flies 767s on major routes like JFK/ATL-LHR/CDG.
Delta Airlines has already shown the public a glimpse as to what the their new product is. Of course it is going in their a330’s in 2026. I don’t understand why people are wondering what would be installed in their new cabins. Look it up. There are photos on line.
Always liked the reverse herringbone seats on the a330. Found them very comfortable and private for the US-Europe routes.
Once the retrofits happen, I bet they move the 330's to fly the Australia - Qatar routes.
The Delta One product on the A330-300 and A330-200 is subpar, just as it is on the 767-300ER.
Have there been any indications what will change on the A351 vs A359? Whole new product or just an improvement (probably some tech upgrades)?
29 mins and not a 5 paragraph word vomit from my son?!?!?!
"While the Airbus A350-900s and Airbus A330-900neos offer a pretty nice experience, the rest of the fleet is more of a mixed bag."
This is NOT true. Delta has ex-LATAM A350s that are 2x2x2 in business-class and lack premium economy, let alone wifi.
"Delta last updated the interiors of its A330-300s a few years back, when the airline added a premium economy cabin (marketed as Premium Select)."
This is also not true.
Delta may have...
"While the Airbus A350-900s and Airbus A330-900neos offer a pretty nice experience, the rest of the fleet is more of a mixed bag."
This is NOT true. Delta has ex-LATAM A350s that are 2x2x2 in business-class and lack premium economy, let alone wifi.
"Delta last updated the interiors of its A330-300s a few years back, when the airline added a premium economy cabin (marketed as Premium Select)."
This is also not true.
Delta may have added premium-economy but they DID NOT update business-class. So, in reality, they only PARTIALLY "updated the interiors."
Delta's 330s that are flying to Paris and London from hubs like DTW are circa 2010 products.
"This is also not true."
If you'd actually read what he wrote, instead of rushing to be nitpicky, you'd see that he clearly said the seats in the other cabins (meaning J and Y) didn't change.