Over the weekend, the airline scheduled the first permanent routes for its retrofitted Boeing 767-300, according to Cirium schedules and confirmed by the airline.
Beginning on June 2, flights between Boston (BOS) and Lisbon (LIS) will be operated by the new configuration of the 767-300, internally referred to as “76K." On July 1, the BOS to Edinburgh (EDI) will also receive the plane upgrade.
The retrofitted 767-300 is a big upgrade compared to the legacy version. The most notable improvement is the introduction of an 18-seat Premium Select cabin, offering a more exclusive product priced between coach and business.
You can expect generous recliners with leg rests, oversized tray tables, upgraded inflight entertainment screens and a refined food and beverage service in Delta's take on premium economy.
Delta is already selling the Premium Select cabin on the two aforementioned Boston routes, with round-trip fares starting at $1,800, and award redemptions hovering around 230,000 SkyMiles.
Though the Delta One biz cabin didn’t get a major product overhaul on the retrofitted 767, the finishes have been updated with comfier (and visually appealing) cushions.
The same is true for the economy cabin. The plush memory foam cushions and power outlets at each row should make it easier to relax in the back.
Related: First look at Delta's first retrofitted Boeing 767 with snazzy new cabins
You'll also notice some improvements across the plane's three cabins, including snazzy mood lighting, a new welcome area and refreshed lavatories.
Delta's retrofit program for the 767-300 began earlier this year with one jet, registered N178DZ, getting the interior overhaul in Kansas City, Missouri. It re-entered service in June and has since been operating varying routes, including New York-JFK to Los Angeles, Atlanta to Salt Lake City and Atlanta to Buenos Aires.
Delta expects to have 19 of its Boeing 767-300s retrofitted by the end of May 2022, so it's likely that other routes will also receive a similar upgauge in the coming months.
But, deploying the jet from its Boston hub is a strategic move on Delta's part, and could even be in response to increased competition in the city.
In mid-2020, American Airlines and JetBlue unveiled their Northeast Alliance, which includes new routes, codeshare flights and enhanced frequent flyer benefits in both New York and Boston. Additionally, the two airlines upgauged multiple Northeast routes, and even tout their lie-flat transcon product as one of the key selling points of the alliance.
Though transatlantic routes are excluded from the tie-up and the DOJ recently challenged the alliance with a lawsuit, American and JetBlue are still working hard to win the business of flyers headed to or from the Northeast, who might've otherwise chosen Delta or United, two of the largest players in the region.
As such, Delta could be feeling the competitive pressure to deploy some of its retrofitted jets from Boston, where American and JetBlue are increasing their relevance.
Regardless, Delta's move is welcome news for anyone looking to fly the airline's newly retrofitted 767-300. You'll find it in Boston to start, with more routes likely coming soon.
