Major airline with UK flights reveals new cabins – including swanky upgraded economy seats
A MAJOR airline has upgraded its cabins which includes better seats in economy.
American airline Delta operates a number of flights from the UK including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Edinburgh.
These flights operate to US destinations such as New York, Boston and LA.
And the airline has revealed its brand new cabin interiors being rolled out this autumn.
The new designs are to celebrate Delta’s centennial anniversary.
Mauricio Parise, Vice President of Customer Experience Design said: “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.”
New materials have been used on the seats, with better lighting and upgraded bathrooms onboard.
Economy seats are more monochrome with blue and grey colours – a colour often used by airlines as studies have found it to be calming.
Memory foam cushions are also being added to all of the seats.
The mood lighting will help passengers adjust to the time zone they are landing in.
Parise explained they had added “sunset lighting” when sleeping as well as “calming” lights during meals.
The upgrades include the economy cabins, as well as Premium and business class.
Business seats will change from leather covers to wool-nylon blends which are “better at regulating body temperature”.
The new designs will be introduced on the narrowbody Boeing 757 aircraft that has both domestic and short haul international routes.
It will then be rolled out on longer international flights on the widebody Airbus A350 next year.
The revamp comes after British Airways’ mega £7billion makeover of the entire airline.
This includes new seat and cabin designs, made from Scottish leather with adjustable headrests.
The short-haul business Club Europe will get a leather tray between the seats, as well as USB charger ports.
New overhead lockers will also allow more luggage storage, with suitcase packed on their side rather than lying flat.
And a new First Suite is being rolled out on UK-US routes.
Of the £7billion, £3.5billion is being spent on new aircraft orders.
We try the new United Airlines business cabins
The Scottish Sun’s Travel Editor Heather Lowrie tries it out:
“Flying Polaris business you get all the VIP perks. Fast track security. Tick. Lovely lounge with free food and drink. Tick. Priority boarding. Tick.
“That sets you up nicely for a fabulous onboard experience, with attentive staff and a stunning new limited edition day blanket designed by Claude Kameni in collaboration with Saks, which, along with the duvet, is made from recycled plastic bottles.
“There’s also a new amenity kit with offerings from wellness technology company Therabody, including an amazing eye serum which has taken pride of place on my makeup shelf. It all comes in a recycled, and very handy, bum bag.
“A welcome drink and hot nuts were followed by a very tasty red Thai prawn curry, all served on real porcelain and cutlery.
“And dessert comes from a trolley packed with sweet things, including ice-cream sundaes where you get to choose your topping. Yummy.”
Brussels Airlines has revealed it’s huge expansion plans, which includes a €100million (£85million) revamp of its cabins.
And airlines are even launching cheaper “business class lite” fares which are thousands of pounds cheaper.