If you’ve ever renovated part of your house, there’s a sense of familiarity beneath the coats of new paint and refurbished surfaces.
Small changes, easily noticed in isolation, compound to transform a space into something wholly new — although those familiar with the place will recognize what came before.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which is prepared to launch its first aircraft cabin revamp in decades, expects flyers to have a similar experience when boarding its retrofitted Airbus A350-900 jets, one of which was first unveiled Friday at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Company leaders hope the planes retain their recognizability as quintessentially “Delta” while the dozens of tiny tweaks and refreshes create an impression of something new.
“We are in the details,” Ekrem Dimbiloglu, managing director of Delta’s onboard strategy and experience, said. “Ultimately, it’s the small details that make a great experience.”
Delta announced in October it was revamping the interior of its aircraft cabins across its fleet in the run-up to the company’s 100th anniversary in March. Interior flourishes are an attempt to ease frustration and congestion.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Some travel writing publications, such as View From The Wing, were underwhelmed by the announcement, questioning whether the carrier is just putting “lipstick on a pig.” Early reviews dinged the color refresh as generic and criticized using memory foam cushions rather than replacing seats, which would have been costlier.
The jets containing the new cabin designs will take to the skies in early February. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution got an early look at an A350-900 wide-body jet, which is designed for lengthy international routes. Delta’s Boeing 757 fleet, which is primarily used for domestic and shorter trips, will also receive the interior refresh.
It will take years for the airline to roll out the new cabin design across its entire fleet. New technology features, such as cloud-based systems and servers that offer 50 times more content, are also coming in late 2026.
Dimbiloglu said it’s been more than 20 years since Delta last refreshed the interior of its jets. The revamp is the result of a four-year design and implementation phase. From mood lighting to memory foam seat finishes, he said the new design is intended to expand upon the comfort of settling in for travel.
‘A comfortable experience’
Iconic brands often have signature colors, and Delta is no different.
Its shade of “enchanted blue” has been around since 1998, but the colors aim to be more toned back and modern.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Its premium cabin, Delta One, is now clad in charcoal grays and dark navy blues. Pops of red, another staple color in Delta’s palette, are still a fixture of the airline’s first class and higher-end seating options. Delta One seats also feature new tech integration, including wireless phone chargers and 60-watt USB-C ports.
The blues become more prominent farther back in the plane.
“No matter where you book a seat, you’re going to have a comfortable experience,” Dimbiloglu said.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
The cabin’s lighting will also evolve throughout the journey. During boarding, the lighting will be “bright, airy and open,” while mealtime lighting will feel more “like candlelight,” said Michael Steinfeld, manager of Delta’s onboard product. The lighting will dynamically change with sunrises and sunsets, while “you’ll see a lot of calming blues” during longer stretches of flight.
Dimbiloglu expects most Delta flyers to be impressed with the new interiors, adding that he expects customer and employee feedback to continue improving the airline’s offerings.
“We’re not a ‘set it and not think about it for a while’ kind of brand,” he said. “ … I can’t tell you when it will change next. What I’ll say is it will no doubt evolve over the next 15 to 20 years.”
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