Delta extends middle seat blocking through April 2021; Only U.S. airline to continue providing more space for customers

 

Delta is continuing its industry-leading commitment to provide more space on board as the only U.S. airline to block middle seats and limit capacity on all flights departing through April 30, 2021, ensuring customers can confidently plan and book their spring travel.

The airline has consistently listened to its customers and prioritized their preferences by offering more space through seat blocking and reducing the overall number of people on board each flight since April 2020.

“We want our customers to have complete confidence when travelling with Delta, and they continue to tell us that more space provides more peace of mind,” said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “We’ll continue to reassess seat blocking in relation to case transmission and vaccination rates, while bringing back products and services in ways that instil trust in the health and safety of everyone on board – that will always be Delta’s priority.”

In addition to extending seat blocking commitments, Delta is taking other steps to reassure customers as they return to travel in the months ahead, such as:

•             Making it easier to understand testing requirements and get tested prior to travel, whether customers purchase an at-home test or find a nearby location for in-person testing, with more options on the way.

•             Creating an interactive travel map to help customers understand where Delta flies and the latest travel requirements or restrictions at their destination.

•             Streamlining travel by building a digital concierge to manage booking, test scheduling and automatic document verification all in one place on delta.com and the Fly Delta app.

•             Deploying a dedicated team of clean ambassadors who will ensure a consistently safe and sanitized experience at more than 55 airports.

•             Expanding rapid testing centres to Delta’s hub airports in Minneapolis and Detroit, which follows other testing facilities at Atlanta, Boston, New York-JFK and Seattle.

•             Delta Vacations selling only international hotels and resorts that offer in-hotel testing for travel through April 2021.

 

Through the Delta CareStandard, Delta has also put in place more than 100 layers of protection to ensure a safe travel experience, including a comprehensive employee testing program, regularly sanitizing high-touch surfaces, and replacing onboard industrial-grade HEPA filters twice as often as recommended.

As Delta welcomes more customers back on board, the airline continues to invest in offering a superior customer experience, including refreshing more than 300 new in-flight entertainment options and recently announced plans to bring high-speed Wi-Fi onboard this year.