Delta, the country's most profitable airline, drives select top customers across the tarmac in Porsches straight to their aircraft as part of a VIP add-on option. That program is getting a bigger garage. Ranjan Goswami, the airline's chief marketing and product officer, said in an interview with CNBC that demand has outstripped the current fleet of 40 cars, so Delta is increasing it to 70. His words: "What's happened over the last several years is the demand has continued to rise, and we realized that the 40 cars that we have weren't enough to meet the demand. So we're moving that fleet to 70."
Delta's priciest cabin, Delta One, is getting new touches on board. The airline rolled out redesigned dinnerware, Missoni mini pillows, and updated food and beverage options, such as Champagne poured over sorbet and Blanton's bourbon. A substantial portion of the new pieces will debut on Los Angeles departures later this month, with broader route rollouts following in subsequent months. There is even a recently designed saucier in the mix.
Goswami said the team zeroed in on durability and detail, from sliding suite doors to Delta-logo-emblazoned dinnerware, and tested pieces to see how they stand up to chipping. One very human challenge remains: "I think people are going to love a couple of items, although we hope they don't steal them." There were no new announcements for coach or premium economy.
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Delta is planning to debut an updated Delta One suite with a larger screen and a lie-flat seat that is lighter and more cushioned when it begins flying its first Airbus A350-1000 early next year. Executives added that they are proactively considering tweaks for additional fleets, among them smaller Airbus models and the Boeing 787 Dreamliners on order for delivery in the next decade.
Delta has been pouring money into premium service for close to 20 years, with United following for a little over a decade, and other airlines leaning into higher-priced cabins too. As Goswami put it, "You got to keep looking at the next cycle of what customers want, and you got to start planning for it now." The takeaway for regular travelers and investors alike is simple: airlines are reshaping cabins and ground perks around people who pay for space, privacy and better food, and Delta is signaling more to come as new aircraft join the lineup.
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