The United States carrier, Delta Airlines, has said more than 19,000 of its flight attendants have started using new Windows Phone 8 handheld devices that will streamline onboard purchasing, as the American carrier continues its investment in technological innovation to improve the customer experience.

A statement from the airline office in Nigeria quoted its Senior Vice-President, In-Flight Service, Ms. Joanne Smith, as saying, “Delta’s 19,000 in-flight professionals are there for the safety and comfort of our customers, and equipping them with innovative solutions means they can better meet our customers’ needs onboard every flight.

“This is yet another way we’re investing in technology to improve the customer experience.”

According to the US carrier, the Windows Phone 8 device, a Nokia Lumia 820, enables Delta flight attendants to offer near real-time credit card processing for onboard purchases, including upgrades to the airline’s economy comfort seating.

Delta also said that onboard economy comfort upgrades would begin on transcontinental and international flights before being offered on flights across its system.

The new handheld device, according to Delta, will also help flight attendants to issue convenient e-receipts that can be emailed to customers.

It would also help customers to use pre-paid credit cards for onboard purchases, it added.

The new device would enhance quicker transaction processing times, and with the ability to read coupons displayed on a customer’s mobile device in the future.

The statement said, “On August 26, flight attendants on Delta Connection flights also will begin using the device. In the future, Delta expects to provide flight attendants with certain customer-specific information to enable more personalised service.”

It added, “This solution was developed by Microsoft, Avanade and ATT after months of development and feedback from flight attendants. The Windows Phone 8 devices will include a Delta-specific customer experience developed by Avanade on the Microsoft Dynamics for Retail mobile point-of sale platform and will operate over Wi-Fi and ATT’s 4G LTE Network. The agreement includes plans to expand the solution over the next three years to the newest Nokia devices.”

According to the airline, the new handheld device is Delta’s latest investment in technology for customers and employees, which in the past year has included the Fly Delta app for iPad, the launch of the new delta.com in December 2012 and revamped self-service kiosks in September 2012.

It said Delta also offered its popular Fly Delta app for iPhone, Windows Phone, Android and Blackberry smartphones, and now in-flight Wi-Fi on more than 800 aircraft.