It's out with the light blue and in with the … slightly darker blue for Delta Air Lines.
The Atlanta-based airline on Tuesday unveiled a new look from nose to tail, leaning into darker tones on seat upholstering with new overhead mood lighting and designs throughout the cabin – even new carpet. Eventually, the light blue leather seats that have been a mainstay with Delta for the last decade will disappear…
Instead, deep navy blue leather seats will take over Delta's cabins, punctuated with dark gray stitching and small pops of red.
It's a simpler, sleeker look and a more modern feel, if not a tad bland compared to the royal blue cabins Delta flyers recognize today. As Delta chases the mantle of the country's top “premium” airline (with United Airlines hot on its heels), the carrier likely figured it was time for something new.
“Delta has a 100-year history of creating a customer experience that feels welcoming and thoughtful with intentional design elements woven into every aspect of a customer’s travel,” Mauricio Parise, Delta's vice president of customer experience design, said in a statement. “As we embark on our next century of flying, this refreshed cabin interior infuses utility with beauty to create an atmosphere that feels fresh, elevated, and timeless while reflecting our customers’ evolving tastes and expectations.”
Just don't expect to see this new color palette on each and every Delta flight any time soon.
The first Delta jet – a Boeing 757 – will be outfitted and begin flying with this new design “later this fall,” according to a news release. Early next year, the new look will appear on the first Airbus A350 flying abroad. From there, it will likely take many years to outfit Delta's entire fleet – the airline said it will touch up its nearly 1,000 planes “as Delta’s schedule and operation allows.”
Critically, Delta isn't ripping out old seats and installing news ones. From economy up to Delta One suites (or the outdated business class cabins that still comprise a majority of the airline's long-haul fleet) , the airline is merely reupholstering its existing seats, redesigning bulkheads and cabin dividers, and touching up lavatories.
That said, it's not just a change in style – there's some substance to this redesign:
- Cabin lighting is getting an overhaul, with different mood lighting for each stage of the flight, from boarding to meal time to arrival.
- On long-haul widebody jets, every economy and Delta Comfort Plus seat will feature new memory foam padding with breathable upholstery
- New memory foam and upholstery is a given for all Delta Premium Select and Delta first class seating
- Delta One business class seats will lose the leather and get a new, wool-and-nylon covering designed to improve temperature regulation
Bulkheads and cabin dividers will feature new designs with names like “Celestial Sky” and “Infinite Grid.” And even the onboard bathrooms are getting a touch up: New lighting, accent walls, and a pop of “Azure Blue” beneath the sink.
All photos courtesy of Delta Air Lines