Delta overhauls Delta One class with new seats, menus and dinnerware

Delta Air LinesThe nation’s most profitable airline has a problem serving top-tier customers: not enough Porsches.

The airline uses a fleet of 40 luxury vehicles to drive high-flyers to their planes.

“What happened in the last several years is that the demand continues to increase, and we realized that the 40 cars we have are not enough to meet the demand. So we moved the fleet to 70,” said Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s chief marketing and product officer, to CNBC.

It’s just one of many changes Delta is making for customers who fly in its most luxurious and expensive cabin, known as Delta One. Porsche service is part of the VIP additional options.

The operator on Saturday unveiled new crockery for the cabin, new Missoni mini pillows and a fresh food and beverage menu, including Champagne served over sorbet and Blanton’s bourbon. Many new items will appear on flights originating in Los Angeles later this month and on other routes in the coming months.

Delta also plans to debut an updated suite with larger screens and softer, lighter seats when it begins flying its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft early next year.

Delta did not announce any changes to its premium economy coach and cabin.

The airline’s executive said the company was already considering adjustments on other planes, including smaller Airbus jets and on Boeing Delta’s 787 Dreamliners are on order and will arrive in the next decade.

“You have to keep looking at the next cycle of what the customer wants, and you have to start planning now,” says Goswami.

He said Delta focused on details and quality with its latest project for Delta One so that items, from sliding suite doors to new Delta-logo-emblazoned dinnerware, are made to last. The company tests some of these items to check for chipping, but there are other challenges, such as customer satisfaction.

“I think people will be happy with some of the stuff, although we’re hoping not to steal it,” he said.