Delta Introduces One-Of-A-Kind Alessi-Designed Serviceware at 30,000 feet

Airline continues multi-billion dollar investment in the customer experience

News provided by

Mar 14, 2017, 09:00 ET

ATLANTA, March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In another move to further elevate the in-flight customer experience, Delta (NYSE: DAL) has partnered with globally renowned design company Alessi to curate a modern, stylish and functional collection of service products and tableware, which will appear in flight beginning April 1.

Delta Introduces One-Of-A-Kind Alessi-Designed Serviceware at 30,000 feet

Delta's serviceware enhancements are part of the airline's multi-billion dollar investment in the customer experience that includes a cabin modernization program featuring new seats, seatback entertainment systems with free entertainment, high-capacity overhead bins, access to Wi-Fi on nearly all flights, complimentary meals in the Main Cabin on select flights, upgraded free Main Cabin snacks, chef-curated meals in Delta One, a seasonal wine program and more.

Delta has also made significant investments in the customer experience on the ground, in addition to plans to add nearly 250 new aircraft to its fleet in coming years. These include new Delta Sky Club locations in Denver, Atlanta, and Seattle, and Club renovations in Nashville, Dallas, Newark, and Minneapolis/St. Paul, airport enhancement programs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Salt Lake City, and the testing and implementation of an enhanced boarding process in Atlanta.

Delta will bring Alessi's one-of-a-kind pieces to its premium cabins, including Delta One, First Class and, in late 2017, Delta Premium Select. This marks the first time the design company, known for innovative and unique designs, has appeared in flight with a major airline with such a comprehensive program.

"The Alessi for Delta collection is part of our continued investment in delivering a world class, global culinary experience that will elevate our customer inflight dining experience to new heights," said Allison Ausband, Delta's Senior Vice President – In-Flight Service. "At Delta we know that every aspect and detail of the travel experience matters, and partnering with Alessi allows us to bring an uncompromising level of elegance and service to the on-board experience."

The Alessi for Delta products include flatware, crystal glassware, new bone china, stainless steel serving pieces, tabletop accessories such as napkin rings and salt and pepper shakers and trays. The collection is based on popular items created and inspired by six of the 300 renowned designers for Alessi.

"With nearly a hundred years of experience crafting innovative objects for serving food and drinks, Alessi was a natural choice for Delta," said Alberto Alessi, President of Alessi. "At Alessi we have worked with some of the most exciting designers in our international network to create the most innovative and advanced in-flight collection in the contemporary design scene."

In November 2015, Delta announced its partnership with Alessi to develop an extensive line of serviceware for Delta's premium cabins. Since then, the new service items have been ideated, designed and tested in flight, while Delta actively solicited feedback from both customers and flight attendants to ensure that every design aspect of the pieces had a purpose. Delta also worked with its culinary partners to ensure the new serviceware and the overall meal experience are designed in parallel.

About the Delta, Alessi Partnership
The Alessi for Delta Collection of 86 unique serviceware pieces marks the first major airline collaboration for the design firm. It is based on popular items created and inspired by six of the 300 renowned designers for Alessi, including Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Patricia Urquiola, Campana Brothers, Stefano Giovannoni, Miriam Mirri and Kristiina Lassus. Delta and Alessi have collaborated closely since 2015 to develop one-of-a-kind pieces for Delta One that bring the customer experience to new heights. Alessi's Chief Commercial Officer Europe and North America Matteo Alessi said of the Delta partnership: "I admire Delta's decision to continue to redesign and elevate the on-board experience and I'm proud that Alessi is part of this enhancement.

About Delta
Delta Air Lines serves more than 180 million customers each year. In 2017, Delta was named to Fortune's top 50 Most Admired Companies in addition to being named the most admired airline for the sixth time in seven years. Additionally, Delta has ranked No.1 in the Business Travel News Annual Airline survey for an unprecedented six consecutive years. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 323 destinations in 57 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft. The airline is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance and participates in the industry's leading transatlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia as well as a joint venture with Virgin Atlantic. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 15,000 daily flights, with key hubs and markets including Amsterdam, Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and LaGuardia, London-Heathrow, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Tokyo-Narita. Delta has invested billions of dollars in airport facilities, global products and services, and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Additional information is available on the Delta News Hub, as well as delta.com, Twitter @DeltaNewsHub, Google.com/+Delta, and Facebook.com/delta.

About Alessi
With a vast product line that includes everything from an iconic, whistling teakettle to a designer fly swatter, the Alessi company, founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi, has long been at the forefront of innovative and inspired product design. The company has created a dynasty out of not only offering products geared towards the mainstream – serving trays and everyday cutlery among them – but by also creating some of the most celebrated cult objects of our time that are featured in museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Alessi has been able to develop a policy of design excellence which has made it one of the leading internationally renowned Italian Design Factories. It has reconciled its typically industrial needs with its tendency to consider itself as a 'research laboratory in the field of the applied arts' while standing for innovative and functional design for the way we live. For more information, please visit www.alessi.com and follow us on Facebook|Instagram. Alessi media inquiries should be directed to Emily Levin at [email protected] or 212-353-1383.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines