It’s pretty easy to tell the interiors of Delta aircraft apart from those of other airlines, given the extent to which Delta has historically used a bright blue as the predominant color in aircraft cabins. It appears that this is going to be changing soon, and the new cabins might just be unrecognizable.
In this post:
A look at Delta’s planned cabin rebranding
Edward Russell has a great scoop on how Delta is planning to refresh its cabins, thanks to an internal presentation that he viewed. In this, the airline shared a “look book” with its new cabin designs.
The updated cabin designs represent a major change, with Delta shifting to much darker colors, with dark shades of blue and grey. Then red is heavily used for trim, given that it’s another signature Delta color.
For example, there are pictures of the redesigned cabin with Delta One Suites (business class). The seats are dark grey with a little bit of red trim.
Interestingly it looks like Delta Premium Select (premium economy) and domestic first class will have a design that’s the closest to the current colors, with a lighter shade of blue than in the other cabins (but still darker than the current finishes).
Comfort+ (extra legroom economy) has the same types of finishes as the Delta One Suites, with very dark colors and red trim. Meanwhile looking at the new economy seats, you might struggle to even know which airline they belong to, as they’re just dark blue, with no red used.
Across the board, we’re also seeing changes to bulkheads. Forward bulkheads will feature what Delta is referring to as a “Dark Celestial Sky,” while rear bulkheads will feature what Delta is referring to as a “White Celestial Sky.”
I’ve gotta say, while these interiors might stand out a little less than the current ones, I actually think they’re quite elegant, and a nice evolution. Now I’m just curious to see if Delta complements this with a new livery… I’m guessing not, but who knows.
When will we see Delta’s cabins get updated?
Delta hasn’t yet publicly announced this redesign, so we can’t say with certainty when these new interiors will be introduced. That being said, according to the same source as above, it sounds like we’ll progressively see these new cabins introduced as of later this year.
- New Airbus A350-900 deliveries could have these cabins as of December 2024
- New Airbus A321neo deliveries could have these cabins as of March 2025
- Existing aircraft will also progressively be reconfigured with the new interiors, and you can expect most fleet types to start seeing these new interiors by the first half of 2025; however, expect it will be several years before all aircraft feature these cabins
Again, this timeline is highly subject to change, but it seems like we might not be too far off from these cabins debuting.
Bottom line
Delta is planning on introducing a refreshed cabin concept, whereby the airline will ditch its bright blue, and instead go for darker blue and grey interiors. Delta’s current cabins are unique to the airline, while the new cabins are more generic. However, personally I think the new cabins look quite a bit more elegant.
What do you make of Delta’s refreshed cabins?
I’m going to miss the widget stitching on the Comfort Plus, Premium Select, and D1 seats. Otherwise, it doesn’t look any more generic than the current interiors IMO. I feel like both are in-line with Delta’s branding.
However, as others have mentioned, the most interesting thing is how the seats look like they’re made of fabric and not faux leather. If so then these interiors will be a significant improvement.
Looks a lot like Americans flagship
Soooo. . .DL is coping AA again with a darker cabin pallet. Climbing seems for like following these days at DL. BTW, it's easier to keep clean and look fresh. . .white and light was never a good choice.
Maybe AA should try copying DL's profit levels...
...which isn't in defense of DL, so much as ridicule of the notion that AA is something to be emulated. ;)
AMEN!
Delta copying American? Why would anyone copy American?
I think you’ve got it backwards. DL is known to be the industry innovator for the past decade with AA following only if they have to.
Can only imagine how much time and $ Delta wasted on this nonsense. Money that would've put to better use by investing it into thorough training for their pitiful new hire Medallion phone reps.
I am probably the only one that noticed this.
It seems that Delta is finally adopting the honeymoon suite setup in Delta one.
Taking my clues from the coat hooks and the IFE setups
I thought I was the only one to notice this as well. Very exciting! I wonder if this will just go into new aircraft’s that are receiving the larger Delta One footprint or if all new aircraft’s will receive this / any other retrofits will take place. Having just flown this product last week to SYD with my partner part of me is happy to have two seats close together on the old LATAM bird...
I thought I was the only one to notice this as well. Very exciting! I wonder if this will just go into new aircraft’s that are receiving the larger Delta One footprint or if all new aircraft’s will receive this / any other retrofits will take place. Having just flown this product last week to SYD with my partner part of me is happy to have two seats close together on the old LATAM bird from AKL-LAX this weekend, even though the rest of the seat isn’t as “suite” ;)- so it’ll be nice to hopefully have this as an actual option in the D1 suites in the future!
I noticed that configuration in the center seats will change into a honeymoon configuration
I like the new look, but it's definitely less recognizable. I'll also miss the quilted patterns.
Especially the new economy is a little more mainstream as opposed to unique. And I also miss the quilted patterns
Delta One looks elegant. The rest is pretty much Air France.
Wish they'd put some kind of color scheme on the doors/rear of their Delta One exterior pods. Just having an all-white plastic facade looks incredibly cheap.
A good example would be the exterior appointments/linings of AA's new/upcoming product.
Agree. Hopefully also make them a little more durable or the hope that the color hides the scuffs. They currently show the wear and tear on the outside pretty easily, which doesn’t look very premium.
Plenty of airlines could use a spruce up with their cabins. NH would be a good example to align with The Room as their business class on the 787s are looking sterile. CX did a refresh on their 747s and A340s to better align with their new product at the time on the A330s and 77Ws. Same with EK currently getting a spruce up.
As many said looks like AF, but I'd also add that it gives some Air Canada vibes. Not a bad thing, but can't say good either. UA and DL are (were?) somewhat special thanks to their use of outlandish blue. Can't say DL's blue looked slick but you sure as sht knew it was Delta when you saw it.
I hope they are not wasting their money refreshing the interior of ancient 767-300s.
Not me. I'll take money spent on the likes of that (investing in their product), ANY day...
...because it's thus money that's not being spent on stock buybacks, executive bonuses, and all the other sh!t that doesn't do anything for customers.
Sort of unrelated but the personal TVs in seatbacks make a huge difference to how passengers feel when they board. Whenever I take Delta flights with non-avgeek friends they're consistently really impressed and I honestly think it makes a difference when they book airlines
Richer looking appearance than the current blue. Comfort matters more than any color scheme.
I think the current Delta cabin colours and finishes are awful so this looks like a nice upgrade. Nothing too interesting but far more elegant, IMO.
I wonder if now's the time to merge widebody Y+ with domestic F. Flying first class has a "marketing prestige" factor that will likely not change how they market it, but at least make them the same operationally (same seats, same meals, etc.)
I wish they would do this or at least add a foot rest to the first class. The new seats on the a321neo have pads running down the calf but I can’t see how they do anything other than add unnecessary weight to the aircraft. At least let it raise up a bit.
This is much nicer looking than the current light blue scheme that looked cheap and dated. Also, the colors are a better match for the terrible eggplant FA uniforms. They should change those too.
They will get new uniforms as part of the refresh. Also a updated livery.
It looks like they make have switched from leather to fabric seat covers (except the headrest) in Delta one Suites. The picture isn’t clear so I’m not sure and as such may be wrong.
It looks like they make have switched from leather to fabric seat covers (except the headrest) in Delta one Suites. The picture isn’t clear so I’m not sure and as such may be wrong.
I don't dislike them, but the overall appearance is giving me "aircraft set for TV/movie" vibes. All the blue and dark grey has me thinking of the plane interiors used by Hollywood. You know, not distinguishable as any particular airline - could be any or none of them.
Delta, the "premium" US airline, drawing inspiration (or plainly copying) designs from Air France and American Airlines, to make them its own. The darker hues though are welcome. The light blue color scheme is not aging well.
As if. Who in their right business mind try to emulate anything American does
I find delta's current blue so ugly I will actively avoid flying with them. But this new palette is very very nice and I'm excited to give it a try! How long until this is rolled out across the fleet?
-New Airbus A350-900 deliveries could have these cabins as of December 2024
-New Airbus A321neo deliveries could have these cabins as of March 2025
-Existing aircraft will also progressively be reconfigured with the new interiors, and you can expect most fleet types to start seeing these new interiors by the first half of 2025; however, expect it will be several years before all aircraft feature these cabins
So you don't like the color of their seats and you avoid flying them for that? Wow!! I think I will short Delta stock today just because of you.
Lol I agree - what a ludicrous reason to not choose Delta.
Wondering if they will finally retrofit the exLATAM A350 with the new cabins
Any chance the seats in economy are fabric? That’d be a bigger story for me than the color change.
Their 763 Delta One product is shameful and should be retired ASAP or fully refurbed to the 764 product.
Agreed. Unless and until this happens, AA has my transcon business.
and yet Delta is the largest airline in the NYC (all airports)-LAX market.
If I remember correctly, the 763s themselves were originally scheduled to retire by next year, so it's no surprise that the product hasn't (isn't?) being updated. Delta seems to be giving themselves room as to how early they can retire these if need be, or how late they can hold off on doing so. But seems doubtful that a refurbishment would be being considered.
I think it ia important to put the 763 on JFK to LAX into context.
1) At peak, Delta seems to run 10 of these flights each way (20 total). I would say 15 of these flights are daytime flights (I count three true LAX to JFK redeyes, and two JFK to LAX reverse redeyes, though that is a stretch)
2) The flights from LAX to JFK are about 5 hours
3) The economy, and...
I think it ia important to put the 763 on JFK to LAX into context.
1) At peak, Delta seems to run 10 of these flights each way (20 total). I would say 15 of these flights are daytime flights (I count three true LAX to JFK redeyes, and two JFK to LAX reverse redeyes, though that is a stretch)
2) The flights from LAX to JFK are about 5 hours
3) The economy, and the comfort plus (where available) product is very spacious
4) Delta offers better lounge access in Delta One than United (Polaris lounge not offered). American is debatable at JFK (I would take Delta's regular SkyClub over the LAX Flagship Lounge due to the deck).
5) the 763 offers direct aisle access for all passengers in Delta One
6) Sometimes the route is flown by the A330 Neo
At the end of the day, Delta JFK to LAX on the 763 is a good and competitive product, with the exception of the TVs.
Where the 763 shows its age is on transatlantic flights.
Agree!
The greys and blacks are so drab
Not that I care for their current scheme either
Good premium looking interiors across cabins these days are JL/NH/SQ/CX/EK - nice use of textures / patterns and some warmth / color - fabrics for comfort, not sweaty pleather.
Though JAL is going black on economy seats which is drab
The new look somewhat resembles AF (which is not a bad thing!)
Yes, the darker colors with hint of red resemble AF, while the lighter color resembles KL.
Tim, dying to know whether you prefer the new or old interiors!
I’m sure Tim’s OCD driven need to comment will not disappoint us.
thanks for asking.
I don't care enough to worry but it is undoubtedly as much a financial as a appearance issue.
I am betting darker materials show wear less and last longer.
and I would argue the red color splashes are what makes Delta interiors unique, not the hue of blue
Agree with Tim regarding the red splashes. If anything, Southwest is more "blue" than Delta (although arguing that blue seats make an airline unique is akin to arguing that primarily-white liveries are unique...)
I didn't say the red splashes make Delta unique.
I did say that they make DL's interiors unique.
And since Delta was just voted the 11th most admired company in the world, there is a whole lot more than red splashes or cabin colors that caused that to happen
lol. Yes. I’m sure Forbes’ list of American companies was quite representative of the globe. You need help lol
When Costco is ahead of you on the list, maybe question what is asked on a “global” scale. Good for delta. But you and your random unrelated nonsense.
I can’t even imagine what a world must be like where a company that fired you also creates your self worth and sense of being.