In so many ways, air travel has lost its stylish edge. Too many of us are wearing sweats in the airport. Some people are even wearing multiple layers of sweaters to cut down on baggage fees. There’s a really depressing ongoing debate about whether children should be allowed on flights. It’s not uncommon to hear about a grown man taking a piss in the aisle.
This is an unglamorous and uncomfortable time to fly, but Delta is going to clutch to the finer side of flying. This fall, its fleet will get a chic makeover with what the company calls a “premium design for all seats.”
Announced on October 15, Delta’s new seat design promises a sleeker (and God-willing, more comfortable) cabin aesthetic. “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,” Mauricio Parise, Vice President, Customer Experience Design, said.
What’s most exciting is that this redesign isn’t exclusive to first and business-class passengers. Regular folks in economy (like me) will benefit from new, engineered leather seats in a darker deep navy with a bright red stripe designed to be a more breathable material. On widebody flights (bigger aircraft), those sitting in the main cabin and Comfort+ will also be treated to new memory foam cushioning on the seats. In business and first class, the seats will be similarly reupholstered.
“The new cabin design features an interior uniquely and intentionally designed to make Delta customers feel at home during their travels,” a Delta statement about the change read. “Breathable materials, comfortable memory-foam cushions on widebody jets, and lighting that promotes relaxation will span the fleet.”
The new cabin design isn’t exclusive to the seat color and cushion type (though that is incredibly important). The entire interior will be getting an upgrade. The lighting will be used to create a more calming environment instead of the sterile and often jarring lighting that is frequently used on flights.
“Every flight is different, so we’ve focused on creating warm, calming and atmospheric lighting options that create an environment for customers to rest and relax, or stay productive as they wish,” Parise said. During boarding, the lighting will be warm to create a sensation of invitation and openness. The lighting will be low and natural at dinner to mimic candlelight dining. For sleep/quiet hours, the lights will gently dim and reduce blue tones. The lighting is basically like one of those expensive sunset and sunrise lamps people buy to force their bodies to experience some semblance of circadian rhythm.
Perhaps the most undersung design enhancement will come for the lavatories. Plane bathrooms have never been great, and they probably never will be, but at least the new bathroom design from Delta has our humanity in mind. The new design will include “bright walls and an accent wall opposite the mirror in the celestial sky pattern. Cabinets in the lavatories will be in a fresh and modern Azure Blue color. The flooring is made from a smooth material with specks of color, ensuring improved cleanliness and safe traction.” Let’s just hope no one tries to make shrimp and grits next to those beautiful Azure cabinets.
Not all of these changes will happen overnight—on narrowbody Boeing 757 aircraft flying domestic and short-haul international flights, you can expect to see it sometime later this fall. Widebody Airbus A350 will feature the new design on long-haul international routes starting sometime in early 2025. All other planes will be upgraded over the next few years, so don’t be bummed if you aren’t taking a mile-high poo under a celestial sky pattern before the end of 2025. Just hold on to hope because it is coming for Delta customers. Everyone else will just simply have to hope other airlines introduce new memory foam cushioning and mood lighting, too.
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