ATLANTA- Delta Air Lines (DL) has officially revealed its next-generation business class suite for its upcoming Airbus A350-1000 fleet. The new Delta One product is based on the Thompson Aero VantageNOVA seat and will enter service from 2027.
Delta (DL) has 20 A350-1000s on order, making it the largest aircraft in its fleet. The carrier plans to install roughly 50 business class suites onboard, the highest count on any Delta aircraft. Around 50% of total seats on these widebodies will fall under premium cabins.
Photo- Delta News Hub
Delta A350 Gets VantageNOVA Suites
Delta has selected the Thompson Aero VantageNOVA product for its A350-1000 business class cabin. The entire cabin will feature a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration, where window seats face toward the windows and center seats face toward the center of the aircraft.
The VantageNOVA seat was first unveiled in 2024 with an undisclosed launch customer. Delta is now confirmed as that launch customer. This partnership builds on an existing relationship between the airline and Thompson Aero, as Delta already uses the Thompson Aero Vantage XL product on its A350-900 fleet.
Each suite will come equipped with a 24-inch 4K OLED entertainment screen, the largest monitor available at any United States carrier. Bluetooth audio connectivity, USB-A ports, AC power outlets, and wireless charging are all included.
The bed measures roughly 80 inches long, approximately 3 inches longer than the current Delta One suite bed. A pillow-top cushion adds extra comfort over memory foam padding, OMAAT flagged.
Photo: Delta
Photo: Delta
Photo: Delta
Photo: Delta
Photo: Delta
Storage options include a dedicated shoe compartment, a phone tray beneath the armrest, and an open storage area, though there is no enclosed storage space. Thompson Aero promotes the seat for its cabin efficiency, with the product fitting into as little as 40 inches of pitch.
The A350-1000 cabin will also feature a self-service snack bar near the second set of doors, offering drinks and light refreshments to business class passengers.
Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr
How Delta One Compares to American and United
American Airlines (AA) and United Airlines (UA) have both selected the Elevate Ascent seat for their respective new business class products. Delta (DL) has taken a different path with the VantageNOVA, though the two products share several similarities in design philosophy and efficiency.
Both seat types support herringbone and reverse herringbone configurations. Delta, like American (AA), has opted for a full reverse herringbone layout across the cabin. Since neither product is currently in service with any airline, a direct comfort comparison remains difficult.
Photo: Delta
United (UA) currently leads among US carriers in premium seat count, with 64 business class seats on its reconfigured Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Delta’s 50 suites on the A350-1000 trail that figure but still mark a significant step up for the airline.
Photo: Delta
Fleet Rollout and Retrofit Outlook
The first A350-1000 with the new Delta One suite is expected to enter service in 2027. However, it remains unlikely that Delta will retrofit its existing fleet with the VantageNOVA product.
The seat cannot be installed on the carrier’s Airbus A330 or Boeing 767 aircraft, and a retrofit on existing A350-900s may not justify the investment.
Thompson Aero has also promoted a potential “business class plus” variant using the VantageNOVA platform. Delta has made no mention of this option, suggesting the airline may have chosen not to pursue a tiered business class for now.
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