US airline Delta, which introduced a middle ‘Economy Comfort’ class earlier this year on long-haul services, is to roll out a premium economy class across its entire fleet.

The new class will be introduced on over 800 of its aircraft operating in the US, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and northern South America.

The announcement is set to bring a new cabin class to the majority of Delta’s jets, with seat pitch of 34 inches or more, more leg room and priority boarding.

Although the first of the aircraft will be completed in November, bookings will begin in spring for travel in summer next year.

The initial seats being offered to some customers who have already paid for an economy ticket for an upgrade of $19-$99 on a one-way itinerary.

In the words of pop culture travel blog Jaunted, “premium economy is so hot right now,” with airlines around the world scrambling to add the economy/business class hybrid services to their flights.

Last month, Cathay Pacific announced the addition of a premium economy service, beginning next year.

Virgin Atlantic, the first airline to use the concept of a class between economy and business, also announced a refit of several of its Boeing 747 jets this week, installing new premium economy seats and in-flight entertainment systems.