Delta Air Lines this week announced the kickoff of a long awaited refurbishment program for select Boeing 737-800s. The US major also said cabin upgrades are earmarked for certain Boeing 757s, but declined to provide additional details.
While the 737-800 twinjets in question were fitted in the late 2000s with Panasonic Avionics IFE screens and USB ports, the technology is now a better fit for a museum display than an aircraft seatback.
The IFE system was installed at a time when the only other entertainment option was an overhead screen playing looped video content, which many of Delta’s aircraft had at the time.
Always grateful for a first-class upgrade.
Also grateful to be carrying a Fold 4 when I see the size of the IFE screens on a Delta 737-800! 😄 pic.twitter.com/0p3iMwcQvi
— Michael Fisher (@Captain2Phones) February 7, 2023
With the reliability of the outgoing resistive touchscreen-based IFE system less than stellar, and the screen size in first class woefully inadequate by modern standards, Delta will install Panasonic’s eX1 system in its place from nose to tail.
Main Cabin and extra legroom Comfort+ seats will see 10″ screens installed, though Delta did not specify what size screen will be installed in its domestic first class cabin. A separate batch of Delta’s 737-800s received a similar upgrade in the mid-2010s.
Modern, more powerful USB ports included in the new monitors will also provide a major boost over the old system’s USB ports which were not designed to charge the power hungry devices of today.
Delta will also install its new first class seat as part of the 737-800 refurbishment program. The seating platform, based on Recaro’s CL4710 recliner, first debuted in 2022 on the Airbus A321neo and has been generally well received by passengers.
Also getting a refresh are the 737-800 lavatories, with an upgrade to touchless features. Split-scimitar winglets will be added to the aircraft to increase fuel efficiency.
However, Delta does not plan to install higher capacity overhead bins or new passenger service units on the -800s, as it did when it refurbished its Airbus narrowbody fleet.
The new domestic first class seat offers additional stowage space for personal items and a sturdier tray table, as well as privacy wings. Image: Delta
Additional cabin upgrades are slated for select 757s and widebody aircraft, said the carrier, without providing additional details.
Delta also confirmed that a more premium-heavy Airbus A350 configuration will hit its schedule in Summer 2024, bumping the number of Delta One full-flat international business class suites on board from 32 to 40.
The additional Delta One seats come at the expense of eight Premium Select premium economy and 31 Main Cabin economy seats.
The first modified A350-900 aircraft in this new configuration is expected to enter into service in Summer 2024. Image: Delta Air Lines
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- Delta’s refurbishment effort shines through on 31-year old 757
All images credited to Delta Air Lines
