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Delta Air Lines announced on February 13th that one of its seven newest Airbus A321neo next-generation narrowbody airliners will feature a unique cabin configuration in the aviation industry. This jet will have one of the largest seat allotments for premium cabin products of any commercial single-aisle jet in the world.
Delta’s newly announced premium A321neo has a 44-seat first class cabin that extends from the nose to the wings of the jet, as Zach Griff said in a post on X. On top of that, the next cabin class, Delta Comfort, occupies the middle third of the cabin over the wings.
Delta’s Luxury Band-Aid
Interestingly, this uniquely configured aircraft will be a temporary addition to the fleet. Delta will replace this first class heavy cabin with lie-flat suite pods once they become available in the future, as the supply chain catches up. According to Flight Drama, the lie-flat Delta One business class seats that were originally intended to be installed on the premium-heavy A321neos have been held up by certification issues.
As a result of the delayed seats for its newest narrowbody layout, Delta may deploy as many as seven A321neos with the large first class seating capacity this summer. The trend in air travel demand since the resumption of leisure and business traffic at high volume after the COVID-19 pandemic has favored luxury cabin products. Although the exact seating configuration is not what Delta intended, the goal of satisfying more premium travelers fits with the current customer demand.
Importantly, getting these jets into service with a configuration that is still in demand, although not ideal, ensures that there will be plenty of capacity for leisure travelers during the peak summer travel months. Mauricio Parise, vice president of Customer Experience Design at Delta, commented on the rollout of the new jet:
“Rather than wait, we chose to implement a creative solution to ensure our customers had access to some of our newest aircraft in time for the summer travel season.”
The First Class Experience
The first class seats have a 38-inch pitch, one inch more than other A321neo cabins, and are 21 inches wide. Seats recline approximately 5 inches, and the 44-seat cabin is laid out in 2–2 rows. The 54-seat Delta Comfort+ section also offers a 34-inch seat pitch and an 18-inch width. Main Cabin has the same seat width but less legroom, with 31 to 32 inches of seat pitch.
There is a total of 164 seats on the A321neos that will be outfitted with the premium-heavy layout. Live and Let’s Fly reported that the seat in first class is a Recaro CL4710 model that features ‘wings’ on the headrest for more privacy. There is also a larger tray table and adjustable armrest for first class flyers.
The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system is present on a seatback screen that is 13 inches wide. Like the rest of the Delta Wi-Fi fleet, these aircraft offer fast, free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members. Free messaging is available for apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and iMessage on all Wi-Fi-enabled flights. There are also two USB-A ports available at each seat.
How Many SkyMiles Do You Need To Fly In Delta One?
The answer is not as straightforward as it may seem.
Where To Fly One
The unique new single-aisle aircraft are intended to replace aging Boeing 757s on high-demand transcontinental routes. Delta confirmed scheduled flights will begin June 7, 2026, on busy air corridors from Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and even Seattle (SEA). Tickets became available for booking only days ago, on February 21. As the seven-strong fleet begins entering service in May, they may appear on airport ramps around the US earlier than the official start date in June.
All of the flights will operate out of Delta’s primary hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). Industry estimates suggest certification for the new lie-flat Safran Vue suites and upgrade to Delta One business suites is unlikely before late 2026 or early 2027. A full rollout of the intended lie-flat product is currently estimated for late 2027 or 2028.
