New Delta One Business Coming To A350-1000 & Retrofitted A330s

Delta has unveiled its next-generation Business Class Suite that will debut on the US carrier’s new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. Ten years of customer insights and two years of design have paved the way for the stunning new Delta One product.

The new seat is expected to fly from 2027 on Delta’s incoming Airbus A350-1000, of which the airline has 20 on order. These jets are set to become Delta’s flagship and largest aircraft, accommodating up to 314 passengers. The cabin is configured with 53 Business Suites, 48 Premium Economy seats, 51 extra-legroom Economy seats, and 162 standard Economy seats. With that, Delta says the jet will deliver a 50% premium seat mix. But if we’re only counting true premium cabins of Business and Premium Economy, the proportion sits closer to 32%.

Delta One on the Airbus A350-1000

Delta will also retrofit its existing Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft, which have an average age exceeding 19 years, with the new Business Class Suites. These aircraft will be fitted with a slightly different seat to the A350, to account for the A330’s narrower cabin.

Delta One on the Airbus A350-1000

Delta’s VP of Brand Experience, Mauricio Parise, explained that the new cabin is all about creating a sense of home and comfort when travellers step onboard.

“Every time a customer boards a Delta flight, the experience and surroundings should feel familiar…That was the driving factor behind every intentional design feature and investment we made in developing our brand new A350-1000 experience, which we extended through nose-to-tail upgrades of our A330-200/300s and will continue to roll out across our fleet.”

“97% say Delta’s flat-bed is the reason for choosing the cabin…This led us to a new design that, when combined with our current mattress pad and luxury bedding from Missoni, makes for an incomparable sleep at 30,000 feet.”

Delta One on the Airbus A330

First Look At The New Delta One Suite

Here are the key features of Delta’s new Delta One suite on the Airbus A350-1000, with many also appearing on retrofitted A330 aircraft.

• Longer lie-flat bed stretching over 6.5 feet (2 meters), an increase of 3 inches (2.5cm)
• Pillow-top cushion that adds a plush layer on top of the memory foam seat
• Smart storage that includes a shoe cubby, a tray within easy reach, plus a glasses hook
• 24-inch 4K OLED seatback screen
• Bluetooth connectivity to pair personal headphones with the IFE
• Wireless charging, plus USB-C and AC outlets
• Closing privacy doors
• Sliding privacy divider in the centre suites
• In-suite mood lighting

Delta has selected Thompson Aero to manufacture its next-generation Delta One suites, opting for the VantageNOVA seat on its Airbus A350-1000 and the Vantage XL product on its A330.

For Australian travellers, the Vantage XL may already feel familiar. It forms the basis of the Business Class seat used by Qantas across its widebody fleet. In fact, Qantas was the launch customer for the Vantage XL back in 2014, although the product has undergone several refinements in the years since.

Summing Up: My Take

Delta hasn’t tried to reinvent Business Class here, and on paper, there’s nothing radically new about the Delta One suite. Privacy doors, large high-definition screens and Bluetooth connectivity are all welcome additions, but they’re also quickly becoming standard across the industry.

That said, Delta’s new Business Class is still genuinely exciting and looks to be very well executed. The real highlight is the increased focus on sleep, something that actually makes a difference on a 14-hour flight. It’s also encouraging to see that the seat is expected to enter service as soon as next year.