Delta confirms an all-new A350 configuration is coming soon
Delta Air Lines' flagship aircraft is about to get a little bit more premium.
The Atlanta-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to introduce an all-new configuration for the Airbus A350-900 jet, as first spotted by Ben Bearup on X (formerly Twitter).
The new configuration, which is reportedly being called the "35H," will feature 40 Delta One Suites, 40 Premium Select recliners, 36 Comfort+ extra-legroom seats and 159 standard economy seats.
There will be two rows of a new Delta One "mini-cabin" with room for eight total passengers. Depending on the exact details of the layout, this might be the most private mix of product and cabin location offered by any U.S. airline.
In total, the new configuration represents a net reduction of 31 seats compared to the current "flagship" configuration on Delta's A350. You can find the full cabin-by-cabin breakdown of the new configuration in the table below.
| Cabin | Flagship A350 configuration | New A350 configuration |
|---|---|---|
Delta One Suites | 32 | 40 |
Premium Select | 48 | 40 |
Comfort+ | 36 | 36 |
Main Cabin | 190 | 159 |
Total | 306 | 275 |
A Delta spokesperson confirmed the plans to TPG but declined to share any additional details about the new LOPA, or layout of passenger accommodations. The carrier wouldn't share more about the configuration nor confirm how many jets will be outfitted in this new premium-heavy layout.
This new A350 configuration is slated to take off on Delta's flights to South Africa this summer, beginning on June 1, 2024.
Some aviation observers think Delta is adding more business-class suites on the A350 to increase the jet's payload on flights from Johannesburg.
The airport's altitude of nearly 6,000 feet above sea level means that Delta's 8,439-mile ultra-long-haul mission to Atlanta sometimes suffers from weight restrictions due to the reduced takeoff performance at high altitudes.
By reducing the number of seats on the aircraft, the airline may be able to avoid these weight restrictions that might be harming the route's profitability.
Of course, it's also possible that Delta is trying to grow the footprint of its business-class cabin, which commands a much higher revenue premium than any other cabin on the A350. With business class often selling for much more than Premium Select, the airline can sometimes make more money selling a single suite than it does two or three (or more) premium economy recliners.
Interestingly, Delta's business-class footprint on the A350 pales in comparison to American Airlines and United Airlines on their flagship jets. The latter two carriers operate the Boeing 777-300ER as their flagship jet, and they outfit the jet with 52 and 60 business-class seats, respectively.
Until the introduction of this new configuration, Delta's A350 cabins were about 50% smaller than its two big competitors. As Delta (and the larger industry) keeps doubling down on premium traffic, the shift to a bigger business-class cabin might make sense.
While this new configuration will be one of Delta's most premium ones yet, it's interesting that the airline hasn't announced a retrofit program for its "35L" subfleet of A350s.
Delta inherited this configuration when it took delivery of A350s that originally flew for LATAM. Business class is arranged in an outdated 2-2-2 layout, and these planes don't feature a Premium Select cabin.
The airline has been busy installing Viasat internet radomes on these planes, but it stopped short of introducing its signature cabins onboard.
These ex-LATAM A350s are primarily deployed to leisure-heavy markets, where the outdated business-class configuration might not bother some of the most price-sensitive premium-cabin flyers.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.