Delta Air Lines is the largest operator of the Airbus A220 family in the United States. Flying on a number of routes from major centers like New York, Detroit and Salt Lake City, among others, the aircraft is making its way on more routes. Delta recently started flying the Airbus A220-100 between San Antonio and Detroit, where Simple Flying had a chance to overhaul the aircraft.
The seat
Delta’s A220-100s are configured to accommodate 109 passengers. There are 12 first-class reclining seats in this cabin. These seats are different from the older generation of Delta’s first-class reclining style product, found in others of its narrow bodies, such as the Boeing 757.
The seat itself is similar to Delta’s premium international economy product, called Premium Select. With first class in a 2-2 configuration, the configuration is quite standard for a premium narrow product, although these seats are an improvement.
Delta announces 37 inches of tilt in first class, which is generous and suitable for this nearly three-hour flight.
As you can see, there was plenty of space for storage on the backs of the seats. The security card and motion sickness bag are located in a separate pouch, so passengers can place smaller items in the bottom pocket of the seat back. Delta removed the physical searches on board due to the ongoing pandemic.
The seat has a simple control on the central armrest that controls the recline. There is another narrow storage area here, which is big enough for a smaller tablet or laptop when not in use.
The only disadvantage of the seat was the airbag’s seat belt. Not all narrow-body products have a seat belt, although it was probably necessary for safety reasons. The belt itself is a little bulky, but it has become imperceptible after a while.
The tray is located on the external armrest and is simple to use and very large. Delta’s seat offers a bottle holder in the central armrest, which is staggered to ensure that both passengers can store a drink.
Delta is blocking seats in the cabin until the end of April. In first class, this means that passengers traveling alone can have a seat in the aisle and window just for them.
Power and entertainment on board
The on-board entertainment system was one of the highlights of the product. With the larger screens of any first-class product from Delta, the size of the screen did not lead to a sacrifice in quality or content.
The typical selection of entertainment on board the Delta Studio was available on board this flight. However, for avgeeks, the highlight will certainly be the mobile map system that comes with several viewing options.
Delta offered two power systems. There was the USB output on the seatback monitor first. Between the two seats, there are two easily accessible exits. Unlike some other products, having the power available at the back of the seat armrest at the front of this row made it much easier to use.
Food and drinks
Due to the pandemic, Delta Air Lines has significantly changed its meal service. On a route like this, pre-pandemic, Delta would have offered passengers a full service of meals prepared with drinks. However, since last year, the airline has offered passengers a simpler meal and drink service.
Delta offers a limited selection of alcoholic beverages for first class passengers. According to flight attendants, the airline is planning to bring soft drinks back in late March or April. If you don’t want alcohol, the only other option is bottled water.
On this flight, Delta offered a snack box that I hadn’t seen before. There were two different options than the options I had on other Delta flights with “meal” service.
The box was stocked with the following:
The offer was quite normal for a snack box. Although it is not exactly premium, it is better than nothing. However, such an offer serves as a stark reminder of the pandemic’s impact on the civil aviation sector. Fortunately, Delta brings back a full meal service at some point in a post-pandemic world.
The contents of the box included a granola bar, chips, biscuits, gummy bears, an oreo, a meat stick, cheese paste and mint mints. There was also a handkerchief and some napkins and utensils in the box. The box itself was also designed to be an independent waste option, limiting the points of contact and the interactions of the crew with items handled by passengers.
Special features of the aircraft
The Airbus A220 has a long history, first as a Bombardier aircraft called CSeries, before Airbus took over the jet line and renamed it. However, when entering the aircraft, passengers can still see the CSeries brand.
At the rear of the aircraft, there is a large washbasin that also has a window. This made the bathroom look much bigger. Some bathrooms can traditionally be very claustrophobic.
The Airbus A220 is a small special aircraft. The plane had fast WiFi, although Delta has not yet made it free for all passengers. Messages on certain platforms are allowed free of charge at Delta. Passengers only need to connect to WiFi and select this option.
Ultimately, I would go out of my way to fly the Airbus A220. It looked more comfortable, more modern and quieter than the other jets. As Delta takes on more A220s, including the A220-100s and A220-300s, these aircraft will become more prominent and more passengers should be delighted with the aircraft experience.
Delta is currently flying the A220s, mostly outside its centers in New York, Detroit, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City. A220s are currently easily found on routes to some of these centers outside of Texas, including Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. Other destinations outside of Salt Lake City include places like Orange County and Denver.
Did you fly in a Delta Airbus A220? How was your experience? Do you want to fly an Airbus A220 from Delta Air Lines? Let us know in the comments!