Nearly two years ago we learned that Delta would launch a version of its A321neo in a premium configuration for transcon markets. Those planes are moving closer to delivery, with a critical regulatory filing recently submitted.
As part of the configuration the planes will fly with 16 mini-suites on board. . The seats will offer a lie-flat option for passengers including a sliding privacy door. Regulations prohibit doors that might impede an emergency exit so special dispensation is required.
It is arguable whether the sliding doors installed on the mini-suites really constitutes “door” in the sense of the rule. But, certain design precautions are taken on the A321neo ACF to provide to the mini-suites installations an acceptable level of safety and to eliminate the risk for the occupants.
– Regulatory Application
Airbus applied for the exemption to deliver the aircraft with the cabin in this configuration. In the application the manufacturer notes similar mini-suites are already flying on the A321, A340-500, A350, A380 and Boeing 737. Moreover, the company notes that the doors do not create a truly isolated compartment on board, so passengers can see out and crew can see in.
Also of note, the application is required to justify an exemption to the rules as “serving the public interest.” To that extent Airbus suggests “the public will benefit from the lower cost of travel when the operators increase their revenue and then reduce their operating costs leading a majority of the flying public to benefit from lower ticket prices.”
Airbus also suggests it is safer to have the mini-suites on board as it will eliminate human error associated with diverse products on board, though this will also be the only Delta plane to have these seats so that argument comes up a bit short.
Further, the public interest is served because more people will buy more plane tickets, which “benefits the economic health of the United States.”
There is no reason to believe the application will face any challenges. Although the application says the aircraft will be placed into service “at the beginning of 2024,” given the typical timeline for this sort of thing, the aircraft seem more likely to enter service in the back half of the year than this quarter.
The back half of Delta’s A321neo Transcon config
Beyond the mini-suites on board Delta will offer 12 Premium Select seats and 120 economy class seats, split as 54 in Comfort Plus and 55 in regular economy.
The addition of Premium Select on board could also create a marketing challenge for Delta. Today the carrier sells the Comfort Plus cabin (i.e. economy seats with extra leg room) as premium economy for domestic trips. Where it operates planes that offer Premium Select that becomes Comfort+ and Comfort+ becomes premium seating in the main cabin.
That works, but leaves significant potential revenue on the table by not properly marketing the premium real economy option when it is available. With Premium Select taking flight on aircraft dedicated to domestic service, however, Delta may need to reconsider how that marketing is structured. In theory the four-cabin layout could also change how points or upgrade certificates are redeemed on the transcon routes where these planes will operate.
This becomes even more challenging when considering the nuances of selling four different on-board products via third party channels which do not display the carrier’s branded product names.
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