Happy New Year from Mod Land. We are off to a rocking start with the induction of ship 1804 into ATL Base Maintenance for the 1st of 63 days on the ground for the Lie Flat modification. This aircraft will be the first to have our new Lie Flat Vantage seat to support the London Heathrow markets. Look for it to accomplish a test flight in late March.
In the background of the picture above, newly delivered ship 3605 completed its Prior to Service modification this week and is ready for revenue service. TechOps completed installing the Live TV antenna to support communication and TV on the Panasonic seat back system. Ship 3606 is expected to deliver later on this week. By the end of January, we will have (7) 737-700 aircraft flying.
Additionally, you can see ship 1608 in the foreground. It just returned to service having completed its structural provisions for winglets. Delta doesn’t quite yet have authority to install the winglets as we are waiting for APB to finish up some final flight testing in order to obtain FAA approval. Expect to see 1608 flying with its new winglets in early March. Ship 191 is completing its structural provisions in HKG while 1607 inducts this week. Delta is looking at several 12+ hour flights to help support passenger loads with the new winglets including ATL-LOS.
Starting today, wi-fi production begins with ship 9015 for the 11th aircraft. From January 15th through 3Q09, TechOps will produce upwards of 10 new wi-fi equipped aircraft per week.
Mike Kotas
Fleet Programs
January 15th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
A lot of aviation-nuts are always on the lookout for info such as this Mod Blog. Awesome, Mike! Keep it coming
What other tidbits can we expect to read about in the future?
January 15th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Talk about peeking behind the hangar door! I can’t begin to rave about Delta’s TechOps team.
Many of you flying into and out of ATL have no doubt seen the huge “FLY DELTA JETS” sign situated atop the hangars lining the runway…that’s the hub of Delta’s Technical Operations division.
They’re the folks responsible for implementing all the new products (Wi-Fi, Lie-Flat, leather interiors) designed to improve our customers’ experience and the efficiency enhancements (winglets, powerplant upgrades) designed to save fuel and increase range.
I’m fortunate to work closely with Mike and his team…look for more behind-the-scenes info to hit the blog in the weeks and months to come.
Chris B.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
How many aircraft do you estimate to have completed with the lie-flat seats by the end of the year? I hope this seat is as good as it looks!
January 16th, 2009 at 10:54 am
golich…we’ll have (7) 767-400ERs equipped with full-flat seat and (8) 777-200LRs equipped with full-flat seats this year.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
This will make flying across the lake much more comfortable and bearable! I’m glad to see this mod finally happen.
January 17th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Awesome!
Will these lie-flats be deployed on the 767-300ER’s?
If so when?
January 18th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I’m going to post a suggestion on this thread that I tried posting on another thread but did not get a response.
In a way, I think it is good that the 777-200ERs have not yet been refitted because I think it might be better if they as well as the next few LRs, the 747s and the A330s have the 767 style lie-flat seats (Thompson Solutions) rather than the 777-200LR style lie flats. It seems that with the Thompson Solutions lie flats, you guys can fit more seats into the cabin (according to Thomposon Solutions’ website). In addition passengers are actually able to sit next to each other if they wish and people at the window can actually see out the window. I would really like to know your reasoning for doing the “haring-bone” style on your 777s instead of Thompson Solutions. PLEASE RESPOND. Thank you.
January 18th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
deltaholland…the long term goal is to provide a lie flat product in the Business Class cabins on all wide-body aircraft used for transoceanic missions.
January 19th, 2009 at 10:20 am
What about the Northwest A330s? Are there plans to update the interiors when they are repainted in the Delta logo? If so, will they get the existing Business Elite seats currently used, or will they get these lie-flat seats?
January 19th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
So they will be installed on the ETOPS 757-200s? Since they currently fly transocean routes?
January 20th, 2009 at 10:53 am
deltaholland…as I mentioned above, the goal is to have a lie flat product on all widebody a/c used for transoceanic routes. The 757 ETOPS birds have a Recaro cradle sleeper seat.
DeltaManiac…The A330s and 744s (and all NW a/c, for that matter) will get the Delta interior treatment, however the angled lie flat seats will remain.
January 20th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Chris,
As a passenger, I suggest that Delta installs the 767 lie-flat seats on the remaining 777 and NW aircraft rather than the angled seats. With the 767 passengers have the option to either sit alone or next to somebody and see out the window. In addition, Delta can fit more seats on the planes = more revenue. I feel that this is a no-brainer, but there must be a reason that I am not aware of. Can you please explain Delta’s reasoning?
-Skymiler
January 20th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Chris,
I was wondering if you could be more specific about the Delta Interior treatment on the Northwest Aircraft. Does that mean that the A330′s and 747′s will have a different business elite product that that of the Boeing 777-200Lr’s and 767-400′s? Will the Northwest aircraft feature PTV’s at every seat, including those in coach? What is the timeline for the completion of this project?
Thanks
tmm419
January 21st, 2009 at 12:58 am
Skymiler…thanks for your feedback…stay tuned for more information about the seat selection for the various fleets as the the Delta and Northwest integration continues.
tmm419…the A330s and 744s will keep the angled lie flat seat up front. The 777-200LRs will have the Solar herringbone full flat seat and the 764s will be fitted with the Vantage full flat seat.
As for IFE..Delta’s A330s already feature in-seat AVOD in Economy and Business. Our 744s feature in-seat AVOD in Business only.
We’ll post an update on the roll-out schedule of the lie flat seats in the coming weeks.
Thanks…Chris-
January 21st, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Wow that’s so cool that your posting all this information about the transformation of planes! Although I’d give a suggestion for future posts- when you first mention ship numbers, let us know what type each ship is =) I’m assuming 1804 is a 767, and i’m sure I’ve seen it land in HNL before….
Chris, I was also wondering if you mean the transformation of the wide-body fleet for transoceanic travel also means HNL flights- not just international transoceanic. I had the ‘priviledge’ a couple years back to get bumped up to First Class on a DL 767 from LAX to HNL, and what I saw and sat in didn’t seem to be worthy of any first class travel (it was BAD). I certainly hope you will include HNL flights in “transoceanic”
Finally, if none of you are too busy, it would be cool to see how a 767 / 777 goes through a cabin transformation over 63 days in pictures or video! I’d love to see what kind of hard work the interior guys have to go through to get all that stuff in and out of the aircraft doors.
I’m glad to be back on the delta blog- and articles like this make me want to check back more often!
Aloha!
January 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Will the 747′s eventually have AVOD in coach? Also what is the status of the “suites” in coach?
January 21st, 2009 at 11:01 pm
I agree with “paparazzi1983″ i would love to see pics or vids of the stuff the 767 goes through!
That would be awesome!
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Chris,
What is the status of the Thompson “cozy seats”?
January 23rd, 2009 at 9:25 am
Mike, First… Thank you for reading and replying to everyone’s comments. That makes this a much more useful form of information vs. people just expressing their thoughts.
I agree with Skymiler about choosing the Thompson Solutions seat for all of your future lie-flat installations. (Is there a negative to this seat??)
I don’t think this has specifically been asked yet… but any update on how/when the existing 777-200ER will get some form of the lie-flat beds? Initially it was advertised as happening in 2008-2009, right? I read somewhere that then new JFK-NRT NW 799 (“operated as Delta”) that starts in June will be a 777-200ER with lieflat seats. Is that still happening?
Thanks
January 23rd, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Yes I have the same concern as clintonuws. I can name three negatives right off the bat regarding the Solar herringbone seat (Can’t see out the window, can’t sit next to anybody, less seats fit on the plane than T.S.) but not one with the Thompson Solutions! WHAT DRAWBACKS DO THE THOMPSON SOLUTIONS SEATS HAVE THAT ARE LEADING DELTA TO THE DECISION TO NOT INSTALL THEM FLEET-WIDE? Is it legal issues?
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:01 am
Lie Flat Vantage seats:
We are American expats (family of 4 adult flyers) who fly home from Moscow, Russia to (MSP, ATL, NYC) regularly. We are looking for the most comfortable business/first class seats for our long trips.
Will any of the “upgraded” 767-400′s (SVO to NYC) or 767-300′s (SVO to ATL) be operating for our next trip (Depart SVO June 22 Return to SVO Aug 20)?
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Jag4girl,
I am not a Delta employee, however, as far as I am concerned, Delta only plans to have flights between JFK and LHR have the Lie Flat seats during the summer of 2009. Maybe you could connect through LHR and fly flat across the Atlantic. Either way, you should have a great experience in Business Elite.
-Skymiler