Delta was supposed to shake up transcontinental flying with its new Airbus A321neos featuring flat-bed Delta One suites, but nearly a year after the first delivery, not one has flown a paying passenger. Five aircraft are sitting in storage three in Victorville and two in Toulouse while the airline waits for cabin certification. These jets have only 148 seats, including 16 reverse herringbone business class suites with doors, a setup that would directly compete with JetBlue Mint and American’s A321 premium transcons.
It’s a bold fleet strategy, meant to replace aging 757s and 767s on routes like JFK–LAX and JFK–SFO. But with certification delays dragging on, Delta risks falling behind rivals that already offer narrowbody flat-beds. As someone who loves flying premium on these routes, I’m eager to see them enter service.
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