Delta to Spruce Up International Business Class

Delta Air Lines says it will refurbish its BusinessElite service on international flights, amid a push to add overseas routes and draw more high-fare business travelers.

The airline said Wednesday it is improving seats in the premium service section by adding more cushioning, new leather covers and improved headrests. Another change involves upgraded entertainment systems offering first-run movies, music, TV shows and games, Delta said.

Delta said it will also introduce new meals on certain international flights, with a menu by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein debuting in August.

Delta, reorganizing in bankruptcy court, has added more than 50 international routes in the past year. To boost its lagging revenue compared with other major carriers with bigger international networks, Delta has been trying to increase its presence in more lucrative overseas markets while shrinking domestically. Many of the new nonstop flights have been out of Atlanta, to cities such as Tel Aviv, Venice, Copenhagen and Moscow.

BusinessElite is the airline's international version of First Class. The changes will be made on 75 long-range jets by summer 2007. Four are flying now, with four more to be done by the end of June, Delta said.

Business travel consultant Chris McGinnis, who closely follows service moves, noted Delta is not installing lie-flat seats offered by some trans-Atlantic rivals.

"We'll probably have to wait until Delta is out of bankruptcy before we'll see a move to the very expensive lie-flat seats," McGinnis said in his online newsletter, The Ticket. But McGinnis lauded the better video systems and laptop outlets that don't require adapters.

Delta and other airlines have cut back on coach service in recent years, but they have continued to use front-cabin perks to fight for the loyalties of high-fare fliers, especially on international routes.

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