Why Some Delta 737-900ERs Don't Have In-Flight Movies

Picture this: you're about to board a Delta flight, excited for the movie selection, but bummer! Not all Delta 737-900ERs have screens. That's right, out of Delta's 163 737-900ERs, 33 former Lion Air planes are taking a rain check on in-flight entertainment. Back in 2021, Delta snapped up these planes, wanting to add them to their fleet fast. Result? They're not all set up with the latest tech. But why's that? Delta's been on a mission to upgrade its planes since 2011, when they first ordered these 737-900ERs. These planes were supposed to replace older models and offer better fuel efficiency. Plus, they came with fancy new interiors. But when Delta snagged the Lion Air planes, they were in a hurry. These ex-Lion Air planes have different setups, like fewer first-class seats, so Delta's keeping them on shorter routes. You might wonder why Delta's taking so long to upgrade these planes. Well, it’s no small task. They've been slowly working on it since December 2022. And where do these unique planes fly? Mostly shorter routes like Atlanta to Nashville or Columbus. Many passengers have noticed the lack of screens and wondered why. Delta’s been busy dealing with the backlog, so some older planes are still getting updates. But the good news is, Delta's planning to have all 29 of these 737-900ERs fully refreshed by 2025. So, cross your fingers for a fun movie on your next Delta flight!