Based in Atlanta Delta Air Lines will increase its capacity on flights between its hub John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Starting next month, the airline will replace its Airbus A321neos with the much larger ones Boeing 767-300ER and -400ER on selected frequencies.

It comes as JetBlue Airways will operate its Mint Business Class-equipped A321s on the route for the first time ever later this month. The aircraft features reclining seats as well as several other luxury amenities.

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According to aviation data and analytics provider Cirium, Delta will use the 767-300ER on just six flights between JFK and PHX next month. The aircraft will operate flights in both directions on November 16, 23 and 30, providing a total of 1,296 seats on the route.

Interested in this route? Find flights between New York-JFK and Phoenix here!

Delta has three different seating versions of the 767-300ER and will use the “76K,” which seats 216 passengers.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

The luxurious cabin layout includes 26 Delta one-lie-flat seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. However, due to the domestic route, they are sold as first class trains. On international routes, the seats are sold and branded as Delta One. Still, passengers experience the same product: a 20.5-inch seat that converts into a 77-inch bed. Delta Premium Select (DPS), the airline's premium economy version, includes 18 seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. The seats have a width of 19 inches and a seat pitch of 38 inches.

The remaining 272 seats make up the main cabin, arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. They have a width of 18.1 inches, but their spacing depends on their position in the cabin. 21 seats in the middle section of the aircraft are designated as Delta Comfort+ seats with 34 inches of legroom. The remaining seats in the main cabin have a pitch of 31 to 32 inches.

Increased capacity with the 767-400ER

In December, Delta will increase seating capacity even further with the expansion 767-400ER. The variant will be used on a total of four flights, while the 767-300ER will handle eight flights. Together, the aircraft will provide a total of 2,680 seats on the route over the course of the month.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

Delta's 767-400ERs seat 238 passengers in a three-class configuration. There are 34 Delta One seats and 20 DPS seats. The main cabin consists of 28 Delta Comfort+ seats and 156 standard seats. Both the 767-300ER and -400ER also offer in-flight Wi-Fi, in-seat USB power, AC power outlets and personal seatback screens with satellite television.

Earlier this year, Delta began deploying the A321neo exclusively between JFK-PHX and replaces the Boeing 737-800 and -900ER that served the route for years. While the 767 is a nice upgrade, the A321neo will continue to handle the majority of flights in November and December with 148 and 152 frequencies respectively.

Mint… finally!

After serving PHX from JFK for two decades, JetBlue will finally bring its Mint service to the route. The airline will launch the product from October 27 and will offer it on a total of 10 flights this month. From November, Mint will be offered on all flights on the route.

The Mint class includes 16 reclining seats in the first five rows. The seats are arranged in a 2-2 arrangement, except for rows two and four, which have only one seat on each side of the aisle – commonly referred to as a seat “Throne seats”. The economy cabin consists of 143 seats in a 3-3 arrangement. JetBlue also offers in-seat USB ports, AC outlets and seatback screens with over 100 DIRECTV channels.

The airline will significantly outperform Delta in terms of the most lie-flat seats it offers. However, Delta has more daily capacity as it operates three frequencies compared to JetBlue's two.