Delta adds 'First Class' cabins on its smallest jets

Delta Airlines is updating its seat configurations. Credit: SpecialKRB.

By Joe Brancatelli

Delta Airlines has announced what it claims is a “major enhancement” of its domestic schedule: “first-class service on flights longer than 750 miles.” But the supposed enhancement is less than business travelers could wish for. What Delta is actually doing is creating first-class cabins on the tiny regional jets (RJs) that the airline’s commuter carriers operate.

Delta isn’t alone. American Airlines announced first-class service for some of its RJs in March and both carriers are merely mimicking United Airlines, which has been flying RJs with a supposed first-class cabin for several years. But Delta’s first class will be even more restricted than United and American. The carrier’s current RJs kitted out with first offer seats with just 35 inches of legroom. That’s just an inch more than JetBlue offers in coach on its Airbus jets. Delta says there are at least 50 routes where the new cabins will be available by the fall.

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