In a pretty broad product improvement announcement today, Delta Air Lines announced a $1 billion dollar investment in what it termed as customer experience and fleet efficiency through 2013. The fleet efficiency improvement involves installation of winglets on additional aircraft. But the product improvements are what I’m most interested in and they run the gamut from installation of flat-bed business class seats across its international widebody fleet to adding in-seat on demand audio video in economy class on the 747-400 and 767-300ER fleets. You can read Delta’s entire announcement here.
There are a number of other improvements in the works, including bringing NWA’s fleet interiors up to Delta standard. I’m guessing this investment was already planned, but I welcome it anyway. The press release specifically mentions improvements to NWA’s 757-200’s. Maybe it’s just me, but those are the most worn-out looking airplanes inside in the entire former NWA fleet. Probably the reason Delta specifically mentioned them! Another nice change is the addition of First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700’s operated by SkyWest, ASA, and Comair. Don’t know if I’ll ever sit in one of those seats as a Silver Medallion, but I appreciate the enhancement. Finally, the Los Angeles Sky Club will be renovated, and new locations will be added in Seattle, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
I’ve always been fond of Delta’s product, and I think it’s pretty clear to regular readers that overall, I like Delta. I just wish they’d make a similar investment in making Sky Miles better too. In any event, this is good news for Delta fliers, and it’s good to see another airline investing in its future.
I really need to make it a point to one of these days book a flight on a DC9. Sooner or later they are going to be gone. Too bad I have no desire to accumulate Delta miles or status, being firmly based in Unitedland.
Having not flown on NW in probably 10 years, I am wondering if those 757s are more worn out than the DC-9s that are older than yours truly?
Oliver,
Could be! The 757 I flew on just before the holidays was very tired. Those DC-9’s, while well used, did at least get a cabin remodel performed a few years back, but I’m not certain how well they were maintained inside. Haven’t flown a DC-9 in a looooong time.