Microsoft explains why Delta dropped Surface, and their answer will surprise you

A few days ago we learnt that Delta Airlines, who had been all in on Microsoft products for their flight attendants and pilots, were planning to switch nearly 40,000 employees wholesale to iPhones and iPads.

At the time we thought, seemingly reasonably, that this was a response to the lack of Windows Phones and an effort to embrace a single vendor ecosystem.

Microsoft has however disabused us of that notion and revealed the real reason – it’s all about bag size.

No, not the 24 x 48 cm carry on bag size, but more specifically the 10.5-inch bags, which it appears is now mandatory for Delta employees.

In a statement to The Inquirer in response to the Delta story Microsoft said:

“We have a great partnership with Delta. The company decided, as part of its hardware refresh cycle, to standardize on a 10.5” form factor for its electronic flight bag.

“Delta continues to invest in and is using Microsoft productivity and business applications, including Dynamics and Office 365 across their operations and will continue to do so.”

As The Inquirer notes, pity Microsoft killed the Surface Mini then, isn’t it?

Read Delta’s original leaked email, which contains somewhat less spin, here.