The $1 Billion Delta One Refresh Launching At LAX This Fall Before The Airbus A350-1000 Even Arrives

Published Oct 2, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT Prachi is a London-based journalist with extensive experience in the aviation industry. She has worked for several leading industry publications, covering a broad range of topics. Her expertise lies in aircraft maintenance, emerging technologies, and advanced air mobility. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Journalism, focusing on data journalism and its potential to transform conventional aviation reporting. Air travel demand continues to grow, and so does competition between airlines, particularly on long-haul routes where carriers are looking for new ways to attract passengers. Many airlines are investing in their premium cabins, adding new business class seats, private suites, and dedicated lounges. They are also retrofitting these products onto aircraft already in their fleets to keep older cabins competitive. Delta Air Lines is one of the carriers currently making major changes to its long-haul product. The airline is carrying out a multi-year fleet refresh that includes new premium seats, upgraded cabins, and expanded lounge offerings. The program includes a major expansion of its Delta One product across both new aircraft entering the fleet and existing aircraft undergoing retrofits, with the new interiors set to begin rolling out across more than 800 aircraft over the next five years. Delta Will Roll Out Its Next-Generation Delta One Soft Product This Fall Credit: Delta Air Lines Delta’s new interiors are set to begin rolling out in 2027, when the airline will also begin taking deliveries of its Airbus A350-1000s, which will be fitted with the carrier’s new Delta One suites. However, before the hard product arrives, the Atlanta-based carrier is preparing to introduce its new soft product first, with the initial service changes set to launch this fall. On August 31, Delta began training its crews for the next-generation Delta One soft product. The training covers the cabin experience, food and other elements of onboard service, although the airline has not yet released complete details of what the new offering will include. The update could cover how meals are presented, service flow, tableware, beverages, and passenger amenities. The Atlanta-based carrier could also introduce a different approach to dining, such as dine-on-demand or more restaurant-style service, although Delta has not shared firm details on what it plans. The airline has already been making changes to its premium soft products. Last year, it started serving Taittinger Champagne on international Delta One and introduced Missoni bedding, including broader mattress pads and memory-foam cuddle pillows. Its amenity kits have also been refreshed in recent years. In 2022, Delta also announced a partnership with chef Mashama Bailey, the co-owner of The Grey in Savannah, Georgia. The partnership brought dishes created by Bailey to Delta One customers, initially on selected flights from Atlanta. Delta Will Introduce Its New Delta One Experience On Long-Haul LAX Flights Credit: Delta Air Lines The first rollout of Delta’s new Delta One soft product will take place on long-haul flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The service will then expand to more long-haul flights during 2027. Notably, the SkyTeam Alliance member has been putting more emphasis on its premium operation at the airport. For summer 2027, the airline plans to operate more than 200 daily departures at the peak together with its partners, which it says will give LAX the largest and most premium schedule in its history. Delta also says it offers “more premium seats at the airport than any other airline.” It has been building up its premium offering on the ground as well. Its first Delta One Lounge at LAX opened in Terminal 3 in 2024 as part of a broader modernization of its airport operations. The lounge gives eligible Delta One passengers access to dedicated dining, a premium bar, wellness facilities, and an outdoor terrace, as well as the separate Delta One check-in area. Delta has since opened the first phase of a second Delta One Lounge in Terminal 2. The 4,000-square-foot space opened in June 2026 and can accommodate around 75 guests on its mezzanine level. It includes dining and a premium bar. The second phase is expected to be completed in 2028. Overall, Delta says that within the next couple of years, its LAX lounge footprint will total 60,000 square feet across four lounge spaces, with more than 1,000 seats. Delta’s Next-Generation Delta One Suite Brings More Space And Privacy Credit: Delta Air Lines Delta’s current Delta One Suite was introduced in 2017, so the product is now approaching ten years old. At the time, the SkyTeam Alliance member was the first US airline to introduce an all-suite business class cabin. But premium cabins have changed considerably since then. United Airlines has continued to update Polaris, American Airlines has introduced its Flagship Suite, and international airlines have added more enclosed suites, larger beds, and more private seating. At the same time, demand for premium seats has also increased. Delta’s premium ticket revenue, including first class and other higher-priced ticket options, rose 14% year over year in the first quarter, according to CNBC. As competition for premium passengers increases, it makes sense for Delta to refresh its product after almost a decade. The airline conducted extensive research and collected feedback from customers and employees while developing the next-generation Delta One Suite. As noted earlier, the new suites will debut on Delta’s A350-1000 aircraft, which will begin arriving in early 2027. They will be arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access, and the aircraft will have around 50% premium seat mix overall. The new suites are based on Thompson Aero Seating’s VantageNOVA platform and are around 10% lighter than the previous version. Compared with the previous-generation suites, the fully flat bed is more than three inches longer and provides 83 inches of space, or more than 6.5 feet, for passengers to stretch out. The seat also has a new pillow-top cushion over the memory-foam base, which will be used alongside Delta’s existing mattress pad and Missoni bedding. The suites will have full-height sliding privacy doors, and the structure has been designed to provide more usable space inside. Delta has also added several storage features, including a dedicated shoe cubby, a tray next to the bed for a phone, and a hook for eyeglasses. Additionally, each suite will have 24-inch 4K QLED seatback screens, the largest the airline has installed to date, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, wireless charging, USB-C, universal AC power outlets, tactile seat controls, a feature lamp, and adjustable mood lighting. Delta Is Adding Delta One Suites To Its Older A330-200 And A330-300 Aircraft Credit: Delta Air Lines Indeed, the new Delta One suites on the A350-1000 will give the SkyTeam alliance member a competitive business class product on its newest widebody aircraft. At the same time, the airline is also working on its older Airbus A330 fleet. The Atlanta-based airline is carrying out a full cabin retrofit of its A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft, replacing the existing Delta One seats with suites that have sliding privacy doors. Currently, Delta’s long-haul product varies depending on the aircraft. For instance, its A350-900 and A330-900neo already have Delta One Suites, while the older A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft have reverse-herringbone business class seats. The retrofit will bring the A330-200 and A330-300 closer to the standard of the newer aircraft and give passengers a more consistent Delta One experience across the fleet. The airline expects 90% of its Delta One seats to be suites with sliding privacy doors by 2030. According to ch-aviation, Delta currently has 11 A330-200s and 31 A330-300s. The airline expects the refreshed aircraft to feature Delta One Suites with privacy doors, alongside updated finishes and technology. Many features introduced on the new A350-1000 suites will carry over to the A330s, including wireless charging, tactile seat controls, mood lighting, and USB-C connectivity. In addition, the carrier is introducing a dedicated refreshment station for Delta One passengers at the front of the A330-200 and A330-300. The same concept will be available at the main entryway on the A350-1000. Delta Has Expanded Fare Segmentation Across Its Premium Cabins Credit: Karolis Kavolelis | Shutterstock Furthermore, along with updating its premium cabins, Delta has also been extending the fare segmentation it has used in economy to its higher-end products. The Atlanta-based carrier has been segmenting its coach cabin for years, from extra-legroom seats to Basic Economy fares. In fact, it was one of the first major US airlines to introduce Basic Economy more than a decade ago, with United Airlines, American Airlines, and others later introducing similar fares. The airline has now taken that approach further up the cabin. In July, Delta expanded its Basic fare options to include Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta One on select routes. This means passengers can access the same core onboard experience as those booking Classic and Extra fares, but at a lower price and with fewer benefits. For Delta One, the new option is called Basic Business. Passengers still receive the main onboard elements of Delta One, including Zone 1 boarding, a lie-flat seat, and premium service. However, their seat is assigned after check-in; they earn fewer miles, have a reduced checked baggage allowance, and face restrictions on changes and cancellations. Basic Business also comes with fewer benefits on the ground. From January 19, 2027, passengers booking the fare will not have access to Delta One Lounges or Delta One check-in as part of their ticket. They can still use a Delta Sky Club if they have another qualifying form of access. Delta Is Preparing For The Next Generation Of Premium Travel Credit: The Global Guy | Shutterstock Less than a decade ago, an enclosed business class suite felt novel. Today, it is becoming much more common on long-haul international aircraft. Sliding privacy doors, direct aisle access, and fully flat beds are no longer just nice-to-have features as airlines continue to improve their premium cabins. At the same time, travel demand continues to grow, and competition between airlines is increasing. Carriers are investing more in premium products as they look to attract passengers willing to pay more for comfort and privacy on longer flights. Delta is following the same path. Its current Delta One Suite is approaching a decade in service, and United Airlines, American Airlines, and international carriers have all continued to develop their own premium products. That has left Delta with a clear reason to update its offering. The airline is now making changes across both its newer and older aircraft, while also giving customers more choice in how they buy the premium experience. The rollout will take several years, but the first change is already close. Soon, passengers flying long-haul from Los Angeles will be among the first to experience Delta’s updated onboard service when the new Delta One soft product begins rolling out this fall. The new suites will follow with the arrival of the A350-1000 in 2027.