United States Delta Airlines has announced that it will be introducing full flat-bed seats in its BusinessElite cabin onboard its daily service between Lagos and Atlanta, effective 5 September.

The changes form part of Delta’s ongoing plan to invest more than $3 billion in global products, services and airport facilities through to 2013.

Delta is the only airline offering year-round, daily nonstop service between Nigeria and the United States. The flight will operate with a 201-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft offering 36 seats in BusinessElite.

Each seat converts to a 180-degree fully flat-bed and offers direct aisle access in a 1x2x1 configuration while the new seats are forward-facing and 22% wider than the seats they replace. All feature a 10.6" individual screen and a broad range of on demand entertainment in addition to a 110v AC power source and USB port.

Delta will offer more than 500 of these seats each week between Nigeria and the United States.

According to Perry Cantarutti, Delta’s senior vice president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, “Nigeria is an important market for Delta and we’re investing in our product out of Lagos because our business passengers expect the comfort of a flat-bed seat when travelling to and from the United States.

“Additionally, thanks to the recently opened international terminal in Atlanta, connecting passengers now benefit from a state-of-the-art facility offering smoother transfers to hundreds of onward destinations.”

Other product initiatives being rolled out across Delta’s international fleet includes the expansion of Wi-Fi service in 2013. The introduction of Wi-Fi on Delta operated flights between Nigeria and the U.S. will enable customers to get online throughout their journey. The international service will use high-bandwith Ku-band capacity satellites to provide global coverage.

BusinessElite passengers travelling to and from Lagos also benefit from Delta’s Protocol service at the airport which “offers a personalized escort through every step of the airport experience - from checking in, security clearance and lounge pick-up, to arrival and baggage collection. Delta’s Protocol service is offered in addition to SkyPriority – a series of priority airport services offered to premium passengers by SkyTeam airlines serving Lagos.”

Delta has also introduced Economy Comfort through Delta’s premium economy cabin product on its Lagos flights. Customers flying in Economy Comfort benefit from up to four additional inches of legroom for 35 full inches of seat pitch and 50 per cent more recline than Delta’s standard Economy class seat.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year.

A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia.

Delta is investing more than $3 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.