Delta to entertain more customers this summer

Delta Air Lines this summer will offer customers hundreds of hours of movies, HBO, TV programming, music and video games through the world-class Delta on Demand available on more than 70,000 seats daily. The airline’s maintenance division, Delta TechOps, has completed installation of the digital entertainment system on nearly 140 aircraft since 2006.

“Delta considers high-quality in-flight entertainment a key component of our customers’ travel experience and what differentiates us in this highly competitive marketplace,” said Joanne Smith, Delta’s senior vice president of In-Flight Service and Global Product. “We’ve continued to invest in onboard technology, and we’re proud to be the only U.S. airline offering both our domestic and international customers, traveling in premium and economy class cabins, the ability to enjoy state-of-the-art entertainment on demand.”

In August 2006, Delta began installing Panasonic’s digital X-Series IFE platform on its 767-300ER fleet in the BusinessElite cabin. In December 2006, the airline expanded the installation of Delta on Demand to all cabins on 45 Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft. Delta on Demand is also available on 59 of Delta’s Boeing 757 and 28 Boeing 737 aircraft. By the end of 2008, more than 45 percent of Delta’s fleet will feature Delta on Demand.

Through 2009, Delta will add audio/video on demand (AVOD) in all cabins on another seven 767-400ERs and take delivery of 10 new 737-700s and six new 777-200LRs with factory-equipped AVOD.

“The people of Delta TechOps have once again delivered spectacular results, accomplishing an incredible number of modifications to Delta aircraft over the last 18 months,” said Tony Charaf, president of Delta TechOps. “This modification work - a niche market Delta TechOps has identified as a key growth area - is an important part of our nose-to-tail expertise, helping to further cement our leadership position in the MRO industry.”