Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines could be considering dropping its planned new business class seats on the Airbus A321neo. As first suggested by One Mile At A Time, the SkyTeam airline had been planning a new premium cabin for popular transcontinental routes, but now the airline could change those plans as the seat design was facing certification issues.

Delta operates a large fleet of A321neo, which are the backbone of its domestic operations. The airline deploys these narrow-body aircraft on key domestic and short-haul routes, which has led it to plan a new configuration featuring newly designed business-class seats for premium transcontinental routes.

No Lie-Flat Seats Onboard Delta Airbus A321neo

Credit: Shutterstock

Delta had been considering a whole new cabin for its nearly 100 A321neo, with the airline considering new business class, premium economy, and economy class seats. The airline had hoped to challenge other major US carriers such as American Airlines and United Airlines, which currently have the herringbone seat business class configuration. Delta had been aiming for the Safran Vue seat design in a reverse herringbone configuration, as it is better laid out for passengers, as it provides better window visibility and privacy, plus a more comfortable sleep surface.

The Atlanta-based airline, it has recently been facing challenges in getting these new seats certified. Delta had received its first aircraft with this configuration in 2024; however has since been placed into storage as there was no end to these challenges on the horizon. This led to the plane being reconfigured with up to 44 domestic first-class seats. The current Delta A321neo fleet below, with data from ch-aviation:

Delta had hoped that certification would only take a few years; however, it is now expected that the certification would lead the airplanes to only launch into commercial service by 2028. It is now suggested by aviation insider, JonNYC, that Delta is rumored to abandon the new business class seats for the Thomson Vantage Solo seat (that similar to JetBlue).

Instead, The Cabin May Look A Lot Like JetBlue And American Airlines

Credit: JetBlue Airways

Should these rumors come true, it is believed Delta will ditch its Safran Vue seat for the Thomson Aero VantageSOLO seat. For those familiar with JetBlue A321LR Mint product, American A321XLR, or Iberia A321XLR business class seats, these will be the same. Given that these designs are already in operation for both US and international carriers, these may be much easier to get across the line, but what some could claim is a substantial downgrade.

Certification delays are hampering several airlines from introducing new cabin types, with the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration , Bryan Bedford stressing that airlines should involve the administration sooner to provide vital feedback or recommendations during the design process.

Several premium cabin designs are failing the required human factor tests, which is causing the delays in getting safety certification. Highlighting a continued disconnect between the seating manufacturers and regulators.

Spending Over A Year In Storage

Credit: Shutterstock

Delta’s rumors that it will ditch the reverse herringbone configuration for Thomson Aero Vantage SOLO come after its first plane spent more than 12 months in storage, and the airline opted to install a temporary cabin to fly the plane on general domestic routings. The latest suggestion that the certification could be delayed until 2028 is a significant blow for the airline, which hoped to debut these state-of-the-art cabins on its premium transcontinental routes.

The preferred design, as speculated by insider JonNYC, would offer passengers the improved layout where the seat is faced towards the window, with lie-flat seats that direct your feet away from the aisle, providing a far better feeling of spaciousness than the standard herringbone configuration.

For Delta, it will be a game of wait and see as to whether these rumors are true, and if the airline, after two years waiting, is not pleased with waiting up to another two years for configuration, and the chances of the carrier waving goodbye to what would be a game-changing premium cabin experience.