Delta Air Lines unveiled its new full flat seat for its BusinessElite class at the Business Travel Show (5-7 February).
To be introduced on international flights on its 21 Boeing 767-400s from Spring 2009 - the first route to benefit will be the JFK-London Heathrow rotation - Delta is also considering bringing it to its 767-300 aircraft, though no announcement has yet been made on this.
There will be 40 on each aircraft, reclining to 77-inch-long (1.95m) beds in a 1x2x1 configuration so that every seat has aisle access. Passengers will receive a pillow, quilted duvet, in-flight entertainment on a 10.6 inch screen and have access to PC power and USB ports.
”We know our elite international business customers want the ultimate in high-flying comfort that only a true full flat seat can give,” said Delta senior vice president of in-flight service and global product development, Joanne Smith. ”Combined with our industry-leading entertainment and gourmet cuisine, this new in-flight experience will prepare Delta”s customers for success in the world”s top business markets.”
Delta director for sales UK, Ireland and Scandinavia, Armin Venencie, told ABTN at the show: ”Window seats will be even longer, at 7ft2” (2.19m), and what is going to be unique about the seat compared to other carriers using the 767 is the 1x2x1 configuration, with every passenger by the aisle. It”s not a ”herring bone” configuration as many airlines have, ours is a straight forward-facing configuration, so no one is sideways or backwards.
”We think ours gives greater privacy to the passenger, with quite a wide space between the two seats.”
The new seat was designed by James Thompson Solutions.