Delta Air Lines reveals upgraded cabin interiors — here’s what to expect from the glow-up

Delta Air Lines is giving its cabin interiors a major upgrade.

The “modern” new designs will feature fresh seating materials, enhanced lighting, a renewed color palette, and new decorative motifs and signature branding, according to Delta.

It will be a few years before the airline’s entire fleet is renovated, but the first plane with the overhaul — a 27-year-old narrowbody Boeing 757 aircraft — will debut this fall on domestic and short-haul international routes, just in time for Delta’s centennial anniversary.

A widebody Airbus A350 will follow in early 2025.

The overhaul focuses on aesthetics and finishings, which means seats will be upholstered, carpets and floorings will be updated, and coverings on aircraft bulkheads and lavatory interiors will be changed out — but the inventory of physical seats and cabin layout will stay the same.

“We’re not changing the number of seats on an airplane, we’re not changing the configuration, we’re not changing how many (lavatories) you have. It’s all what we refer to as trim and finish,” Alex Douglas, general manager of Technical Operations at Delta, told USA Today.

But the changes — including memory-foam cushions on widebody jets, breathable materials and lighting to elevate relaxation — will still be noticeable to passengers.

“Delta has a 100-year history of creating a customer experience that feels welcoming and thoughtful with intentional design elements woven into every aspect of a customer’s travel,” Mauricio Parise, vice president of customer experience design, said in a statement.

“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.”

Delta noted that the “nose-to-tail transformation” of the cabin interior is based on feedback and research from customers and employees.

Here’s more on what to expect.

Seats

Passengers’ seats will have the biggest, most noticeable upgrade on the flight.

Delta One business class customers will find seats covered in brand new navy blue and gray “soft and breathable” fabric, made of a blend of wool and nylon — lighter than the current seat covers. That is meant to help regulate temperatures for a better sleep experience on the lie-flat seats.

Delta One seats will also have a headrest made from engineered leather.

“One of the geneses of the work and the brief we gave is once you get in the plane, we need to decelerate you. We want our customers to have their anxiety low and a place that is calm,” Mauricio Parise, Delta’s vice president of brand experience, told USA Today. “How can we create something that uses the colors in a way that it’s calming?”

Delta Premium Select and First Class seats include new memory foam cushions with “breathable” engineered leather.

Passengers in Delta Comfort+ or the Main Cabin will also see upgraded colors and stitching on the new seats with memory foam cushions. Dark, sleek colors with brand-red accents will be prominent throughout the plane.

Seatback pockets will additionally have extra storage compartments.

Lighting

In line with the “calming” renovations, Delta’s upgrades will include warmer interior lighting that the airline suggests will help passengers adjust to their time zone.

Mood lighting will be designed for each phase of the flight.

“For boarding, we’ve focused on the ‘moment of deceleration’ – warm and inviting lighting that makes the cabin appear spacious and open,” Parise said in a statement, adding that plans included lofty lighting goals.

“At mealtimes, we queue hues that feel like you’re at a candlelit dinner – making meals more natural and inviting,” he explained.

“As the lights dim for sleep, we borrow from the sunset and slowly remove blue light while bringing in warm amber tones which are reminiscent of a sunset glow. When it’s time to wake up, the cabin slowly brightens into morning and daylight.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Delta executives told USA Today that they even conducted “selfie tests” to make sure influencers and wannabe social media stars will have crisp, natural lighting for onboard posts.

Branding and design

Delta is leaning into a more modern color palette with softer, warmer colors, as well as natural materials like wool.

There will be branded identifiers on all widebody aircraft in Delta One and Delta Premium Select to differentiate between cabins, and aircraft that don’t have full-sized cabin dividers will feature an “under-bin” marker.

Bathrooms are also getting a refresh with bright walls and an accent wall opposite the mirror in Delta’s Celestial Sky pattern. Lavatory cabinets will be azure blue, and flooring will be a color-specked, smooth material for better cleanliness and traction.

“Delta has taken the time to develop every detail of our new interiors; the team was intentional in creating an experience that mimics our customers’ lifestyles and puts them at ease as soon as they board our aircraft,” Parise said.