Skip to main content

Delta Elevates the Flying Experience with Italian-designed Alessi Serviceware

Airplane cabins aren’t often known as incubators for great design inspiration.

But, Delta Airlines is looking to change that. This April, they’re announcing a partnership with Alessi to furnish their premium cabins with high-end, one-of-a-kind serviceware and dishes. The world-renowned Italian brand is known for creating some of the world’s sleekest, chicest, most modern designs.

Recommended Videos

The unique line has been 18 months in the making and is just now ready for primetime. Travelers in Delta’s premium classes of travel — including Delta One and First Class — will be the first to see the upgrade. The serviceware will then roll out to Delta Premium Select passengers later this year.

Six of Alessi’s most celebrated designers were tasked to rework a total of 86 pieces of dinnerware, glassware, flatware, and other service accessories. Adapting some of their existing designs for the rigors and weight requirements of air travel proved a daunting one. One of the company’s signature wine glass designs — the iconic “Ovale,” for example — needed to be reworked with a wider, hollowed-out base. The resulting design is lighter, more stable, and perfectly suited for the airline’s needs.

Delta Alessi Serviceware
Image used with permission by copyright holder

But, the design house took it a step further by altering the glass’s shape so that adjacent glasses fit more closely against one another when stored. Geometry fans can appreciate this concept of interlocking–known as tessellation–and it’s arguably the single most important business consideration for airlines. Applying better tessellation to these glasses — and the entire new line in general —  means a space-savings of up to 33%. Delta will allegedly take advantage of the extra space to make room for all-new martini glasses. And that’s a win for everyone.

For years, the design, technology, and overall amenities of many domestic carriers in the United States have lagged behind the offerings of first-rate international carriers like Emirates and Virgin Atlantic. The introduction of this new serviceware is part of Delta’s commitment to providing a better, more competitive travel experience that includes extensive modernization of their entire fleet. Other enhancements rolling out in 2017 include seasonal wine menus, Wi-Fi Internet on most flights, upgraded seatback entertainment systems with free programming, and better snacks and meals all around.

We’ll drink to that.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Ritz-Carlton’s new yacht Luminara offers luxury cruises and top-tier dining
Enjoy all of your favorite Ritz-Carlton amenities at sea
Luminara

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection just set sail on its newest and largest ship yet. Departing from Monte Carlo, yesterday, July 3, Luminara marks the third ship in the brand’s growing fleet.

With 226 spacious suites, each featuring private terraces, Luminara was designed for travelers who want the intimacy of a yacht with the comfort and amenities of a high-end resort. But what truly sets this ship apart is where it’s headed. Luminara will be the first in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to explore destinations in Asia, Alaska, and Canada, opening new routes for the brand’s loyal cruisers.

Read more
Where you vacation could raise your skin cancer risk, says new study
New study reveals alarming sunscreen truths
Palm Beach, Florida

Most of us assume everyone knows the importance of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays, yet a new study suggests awareness campaigns aren't doing enough to protect Americans. A recently published study revealed a dangerous gap between what people know about sunscreen and how they use it, putting millions of Americans at an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Furthermore, the study found that specific beach destinations may have higher skin-damaging UV doses than others, indicating that where you vacation also weighs in on your overall risk of skin cancer.

The study analyzed over 378 million UV dose records from the European Space Agency and melanoma skin cancer rates from the World Health Organization for 168 countries. Those seeking the safest beach vacation possible should look to destinations such as Poland, Albania, and Iceland, with the lowest combined average daily UV radiation levels and melanoma skin cancer rates. Meanwhile, other popular beach destinations in Peru, Australia, and Ecuador had the riskiest UV radiation levels. In the U.S., Alaska, Washington, and Maine are the safest states for beachgoers who want to protect themselves from the sun.

Read more
Smoking near the Eiffel Tower could now cost you under France’s new ban
Think twice before lighting up in France
Eiffel tower during day

The image of a cigarette-smoking Parisian strolling along the Seine is quickly becoming more of a memory than a reality. France has just rolled out a sweeping new smoking ban that makes lighting up in many public outdoor spaces, including popular tourist spots like the Eiffel Tower, beaches, parks, and bus stops, illegal.

The new rules, which went into effect this week, are part of a nationwide effort to reduce smoking, especially in areas where children are present. France’s health ministry says tobacco must disappear from places where kids play and gather, a sentiment that most French parents, and the majority of the public, support.

Read more