We’re seeing fairly some good enhancements to the lengthy haul enterprise class merchandise of main US airways. We just lately noticed American introduce its new Flagship Suite enterprise class, quickly United plans to introduce its new Polaris enterprise class, and subsequent up it’s Delta’s flip. We’re getting extra of a way of what we will count on…
Delta putting in VantageNOVA seats on A350-1000s?
Delta has 20 Airbus A350-1000s on order, which is able to finally be the service’s flagship plane. Not solely will this be Delta’s largest plane, but it surely’s additionally anticipated to be probably the most premium configured airplane. Sadly at this level, we’ll have to attend till 2027 for the primary of those planes to be delivered.
So, what can we count on onboard? We’ve heard some rumblings over time, although JonNYC has some attention-grabbing new insights, as normal. Jon means that Delta’s new enterprise class suite on the Airbus A350-1000 will likely be the Thompson Aero VantageNOVA product, and that the airline will set up 50 enterprise class seats on the plane, which is probably the most enterprise class seats Delta has ever put in on an plane (although nonetheless wanting the 64 enterprise class seats United can have on its new 787-9s).
It makes good sense that that is the product that Delta goes with, provided that Delta already has an in depth partnership with Thompson Aero for its enterprise class seats (the A350-900s have the Thompson Aero Vantage XL product).
Like many new merchandise these days, the VantageNOVA product is fairly versatile, and airways can elect one of many two layouts, all in a 1-2-1 structure:
- All seats may be reverse herringbone, which means the window seats face the home windows, and the middle seats face the middle
- It may be a hybrid cabin, with the window seats dealing with the aisle (herringbone), and the middle seats dealing with the middle (reverse herringbone)
I feel it’s protected to say that most individuals would favor the previous structure in comparison with the latter. It’s price noting that that is supposed to be a really environment friendly product to put in, with seats having as little as 40″ of pitch.
Like many new premium merchandise, Thompson Aero additionally guarantees a entrance row “enterprise class plus” product, profiting from the additional area within the first row.
The VantageNOVA product was solely unveiled in 2024, and isn’t but in service. Thompson Aero says it has a launch buyer for this product, although that buyer hasn’t been disclosed. So I feel it’s extremely probably that Delta is the launch buyer being referred to.
My tackle Delta’s potential new enterprise class seat
What’s attention-grabbing is that American and United are each within the strategy of rolling out a brand new enterprise class product as effectively, they usually’ve chosen precisely the identical seat — the Adient Ascent product. However like many airplane seats, there’s plenty of flexibility there for personalisation.
So, what ought to we make of Delta’s new enterprise class seat? Effectively, I’d say it seems similar to the Adient Ascent product. Each are supposed to be environment friendly, and supply the choice of a mixed herringbone and reverse herringbone configuration. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to know consolation stage for positive, since this product isn’t but in service with any airline.
I feel we’ve reached the purpose now the place enterprise class seats aren’t truly getting rather more snug, however as an alternative, it’s nearly whether or not they have a door, and the way good the seat tech is (leisure screens, charging, bluetooth audio, and many others.).
For that matter, what counts most is what number of planes an airline has with its newest era premium seats. Take Emirates for instance. Emirates has its wonderful “Recreation Changer” first-class, which was launched in 2017… it has been put in on a complete of 9(!!!) planes. On the present tempo, your complete fleet could also be reconfigured with the product by 2275!
So yeah, it’s nice that we’ll see the primary airplane with this product enter service for Delta in 2027, and I query whether or not Delta will reconfigure any planes with the product (I doubt it, since this product can’t be retrofitted on A330s and 767s, and I doubt Delta thinks the funding is price it on present A350s).
Backside line
We all know that Delta plans to introduce a brand new enterprise class product on its Airbus A350-1000s, which ought to be delivered as of 2027. Rumors counsel that Delta will likely be putting in the Thompson Aero VantageNOVA product, with 50 of those seats being put in on Delta’s new flagship plane. I believe Delta would be the launch buyer for this seat, so I sit up for studying all the main points.
What do you make of Delta’s new enterprise class plans?
