American Airlines and Delta Air Lines executives see more premium opportunities in 2026.
Both airlines expect strong demand for premium air travel; think about everything from premium economy seats to new Emblematic suites on American’s new Boeing 787-9P planes, where the “P” stands for “premium,” will continue into next year.
“We’re going to have a great year being the top end of the premium range in travel,” Ed Bastian, Delta’s chief executive, said at a Morgan Stanley investor conference on Wednesday.
Later that day, at a Goldman Sachs investor conference, US CFO Devon May said: “We’re excited to be a premium global airline. We think that’s where demand trends will go.”
Delta is at the forefront of the shift toward premium travel among U.S. airlines. The airline began the process in the years after its 2010 merger with Northwest Airlines, a trend that other airlines have copied to varying degrees in the years since. The shift accelerated after the COVID-19 pandemic, and even the strongest airlines that operate only in economy class, including Southwest Airlines, added seats with extra legroom and considering first class cabins.
Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines have also added some form of premium inflight product to their planes. And Alaska Airlines, which is in the midst of its merger with Hawaiian Airlines, plans to debut a “beautiful new international experience” on their 787s sometime next year.
And Delta’s main competitors, American and United Airlines, have introduced in recent years updates to your most sophisticated offerings which even include a limited number of “light first class” seats. United have gone one step further with in-seat entertainment screens in economy class across its mainline fleet rather than simply streaming entertainment on the traveler’s personal device.
“All airlines in the United States have changed their strategy after COVID,” Bastian said. “There’s talk about some of these other airlines, whether it’s Spirit going through a second bankruptcy and Frontier saying they’re going to launch more premium offerings, Southwest changing their mind, American changing — everyone’s changed their mind except Delta.”
Bastian, displaying some of his trademark arrogance, even described United management as “smart” for copying Delta.
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“United are doing everything possible to copy us and I don’t blame them,” he said. “I’d copy Delta too, if I were them.”
Bastian did not comment on where his airline falls short when it comes to premium offerings. Its Delta One business class suites, while still very good, date back to 2017. The airline introduced a series of mainly cosmetic updates last year.
And, despite having recently opened four Delta One lounges exclusively for business class, only two, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – are at its five largest international gateways, scheduling data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. Atlanta, Delta’s largest international long-haul gateway, lacks a Delta One lounge. for now.
American, widely considered the third major U.S. airline behind Delta and United, is hoping to catch up with its new Flagship Suites and premium economy seats that debuted on the 787 earlier this year. They will begin to fly on the airline’s planes. new Airbus A321XLR from JFK to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on December 18.
May even acknowledged American’s lagging position in her comments Wednesday.
“I think if we had more [premium] today we would be more profitable,” he stated.
American, May said, sees 2026 as a run year in which it will launch more A321XLRs and 787s with its new premium offerings across its network. The airline also plans to begin retrofitting its Boeing 777 fleet with the product.
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